The UK government is being urged to negotiate a Customs Union at the next summit with the European Union.
On Wednesday, Keir Starmer pledged to forge closer ties with the EU in the wake of Donald Trump’s war in Iran.
Speaking at Number 10, the prime minister said: “It is increasingly clear that as the world continues down this volatile path, our long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the European Union.
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After calling out the “deep damage to our economy” caused by Brexit, Starmer announced a summit would take place later this year with the EU.
He said this would would be used to seek closer economic and security cooperation between the two sides.
Sir Keir’s comments have been welcomed by pro-EU voices, but the government is now facing calls to go even further in closening ties with Europe by agreeing a Customs Union with the trading bloc.
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, the Liberal Democrats called for the government to “scraps its arbitrary ‘red lines’ in our relationship with the EU.”
Liberal Democrat Europe Spokesperson, Al Pinkerton MP, said: “This is a welcome, albeit overdue, moment of honesty from the Prime Minister. Warm words and handshakes however do not fix broken supply chains, the rising cost of living, or the strangulation of our economic growth to the tune of £250m a day in lost tax revenue as a result of the Conservatives’ botched Brexit deal.
“With Trump waging an illegal war in Iran and threatening to pull the US out of NATO, it is now more important than ever that we strengthen ties with those allies we can rely on. That’s why, ahead of the next UK-EU Summit, the Government must formally scrap its arbitrary ‘red lines’ on our relationship with the EU, and have the courage to negotiate a Customs Union as a matter of economic urgency.
“This is a solution which members of the Prime Minister’s own cabinet openly support, and one which will finally get Britain growing again. We don’t need a Government that discusses a problem but is too afraid to implement the solution.”
Government ministers have previously ruled out the possibility of a customs union or a full reverse of Brexit, something that was echoed by Starmer at his press conference.