EU'LL BE CLOSER

UK and Germany thrashing out treaty | 'No single market & no free movement'

- MIKEY SMITH

KEIR Starmer has launched his bid to rebuild partnerships with countries across the EU.

He has put together plans with Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the two nations to co-operate on tackling illegal migration.

Security, trade, and science and technology are also to be covered in the treaty being hammered out.

But Mr Starmer insisted the bilateral agreement would not represent a watering down of Brexit.

At a joint press conference in the German Chancellery in the capital Berlin, the Prime Minister said both sides hope a "once-in-a-lifetime" treaty would be agreed by the end of the year. Chancellor Scholz said Germany wants to "take this hand reached out to us".

A joint statement after talks between the two leaders yesterday said the nations share "a strong friendship, common values and mutual interests".

It added the treaty would reflect Britain and Germany's status as "the closest of partners in Europe".

Mr Starmer said that a closer relationship with our European allies is vital for boosting economic growth in the UK.

But he added that the deal and his intention to enhance Britain's ties with EU nations are not about reversing Brexit.

He said: "We've been really clear - no single market, no customs union, no free movement, no going back into the EU." The Prime Minister has left the door open to cultural and educational exchanges with Germany in future, not ruling out a deal similar to the existing Erasmus programme.

But he said no plans had been discussed for a youth mobility scheme, which was a proposal from the EU to allow under-30s to come to Britain to work and study. The Prime Minister said: "We want a close relationship, of course.