Nigel Farage has launched a fierce attack on Sir Keir Starmer's plans for a closer relationship with the European Union, vowing to fight the Prime Minister's Brexit reset "all the way." The Reform UK leader used a major rally in London to accuse Labour of gearing up for a "Brexit betrayal" that would hand power to "unelected EU bureaucrats."
Farage's Warning on Sovereignty and Economic Woes
Speaking at the Excel Centre in London, Mr Farage warned that Sir Keir's attempts to cosy up to Brussels would "solve none of our economic problems." He argued that aligning more closely with the EU single market, as hinted at by the Prime Minister, would damage Britain and backfire on Labour in future elections.
"Bit by bit, he is taking away the ability, not just of parliament to make decisions, but of your rights as voters to decide who should take those decisions," Farage told supporters. He promised a relentless campaign against what he termed a "surrender of our sovereignty, of our money, of our fishing grounds."
His comments follow Sir Keir Starmer's weekend interview with the BBC, where he stated he was "looking at better access to the single market" and would consider "closer alignment" if it served the national interest.
Legal Battle Over Local Elections and a London Offensive
In a separate development, Mr Farage revealed that Reform UK is poised to launch a judicial review next week against government plans to allow dozens of councils to postpone local elections set for May. He condemned the potential delay, which could affect up to 10 million voters, as "the behaviour of a Banana Republic."
The London rally also served to kickstart Reform's local election campaign in the capital, an area historically difficult for the party. The event provided a platform for Laila Cunningham, unveiled this week as Reform's candidate for the 2028 London mayoral election. She attacked the current Mayor, Sadiq Khan, on crime, pledging to be a "new sheriff in town" and launch an "all-out war on crime."
How Far Could Labour's Brexit Reset Go?
The row intensifies as details emerge of Labour's strategy. Ministers have already agreed to follow EU rules in sectors like food and farming for easier market access. Forthcoming legislation is expected to introduce "dynamic alignment," a process where UK laws automatically update to match new EU regulations, starting with agreed areas but with powers to expand.
Adding fuel to the fire, Sir Keir's biographer and unofficial adviser, Tom Baldwin, suggested the reset could go further than initially planned. He told Politico that the PM's comments "opened up a whole range of possibilities," and at the "upper end," Labour might seek a mandate in a second term to get "very close to rejoining the single market."
Brussels sources have indicated any significant removal of trade barriers would require the UK to "pay to play," potentially involving billions of pounds and agreeing to EU laws without a say in their creation. As this political battle lines are drawn, Farage has positioned Reform UK as the primary opposition to what he frames as a stealthy reversal of the 2016 referendum result.
