Relations with nations and regions
The new prime minister has immediately embarked on a tour of Britain’s devolved nations to seek a “reset” of relations with the first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Discussing the four-nations tour at his press conference Saturday, Starmer said he wanted not just to meet the first ministers to discuss the challenges they face, but “to establish a way of working across the United Kingdom that will be different and better to the way of working that we’ve had in recent years.”
In Scotland he faces the task of establishing a constructive working relationship with a normally hostile Scottish National Party administration now very much on the back foot after suffering dramatic losses at Labour’s hands in last Thursday’s election, amid ongoing tensions between the two parties over taxes on fossil-fuel companies and transgender rights.
Starmer’s party may be rejoicing at the total wipeout of all Welsh Conservative MPs in the election, but Labour remains under fierce pressure to address NHS difficulties in Wales. Meanwhile, the Labour first minister, Vaughan Gething, is under a cloud since losing a confidence vote over donations to his leadership campaign.
When Starmer arrives in Belfast he will underline Labour’s intention to scrap the Conservatives’ Legacy Act, which ended all criminal and civil cases connected to Northern Ireland’s 1968-1998 civil conflict and is hated by all parties there. The so-called Irish Sea border — trade barriers between Britain and Northern Ireland created by Boris Johnson’s 2019 Brexit agreement — is likely to be on the agenda as well, with Labour vowing to reduce border friction for businesses.
Starmer will also meet metro mayors across England — all but one of whom are now drawn from the Labour Party — in advance of his plans for greater regional devolution, expected as one of the meatier items to feature in the King’s Speech. But he will face uncomfortable questions over local government finance, with as many as 200 local authorities currently on the verge of going bust.
EU relations
After years of tension and acrimony between the U.K. and its European neighbors over the terms and legacy of Brexit, Starmer has indicated his intention to open a new chapter of relations with the European Union.
The new PM told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a phone call shortly after taking office that he wanted “greater economic cooperation,” while a separate call with French President Emmanuel Macron covered “shared priorities, including migration and the economy.”
U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy made his first overseas visit to Berlin barely 24 hours after being sworn in, declaring that “it’s time to reset our relationship with our European friends and allies.”
His comments were echoed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who told Starmer that she looked forward to meeting in person to discuss ways to “strengthen cooperation and reset the relationship” between the U.K. and the EU.
High on the agenda is Labour’s stated ambition of negotiating a veterinary agreement with the bloc in a bid to smooth trade and reduce border friction for businesses.
Simon Harris, Ireland’s taoiseach, said Sunday that the EU is “absolutely” open to discussing an overhaul of the post-Brexit trading relationship.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
