'Starmer wants to take us closer to economies and political institutions that are failing'

NIGEL Farage has warned Sir Keir Starmer not to sabotage a potential US trade deal by moving closer to the EU despite the Prime Minister insisting that Brexit is settled.

- Katie Harris

Sir Keir meets European leaders in Brussels today as part of his Brexit "reset". But the Reform UK leader is urging him to prioritise the US over the bloc following Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Asked what the PM should tell European leaders, Mr Farage said: "Pull yourselves together, get rid of this ridiculous idea of the European Union. But he won't do that.

"He wants to take us closer back to a set of economies that are failing, a set of political institutions that are failing, with parties being elected all over Europe that Starmer can't stand and goodness knows what will happen in Germany in those elections coming up shortly.

"All I would say to Starmer is don't take us back so closely to the EU that you damage our ability to do a trade deal with America - that's my real message."

It comes as Mr Trump threatened to slap tariffs on the EU after he announced a 25% levy on goods coming from Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10% on China. Canada and Mexico, the US's nearest neighbours and largest trading partners, both threatened yesterday to retaliate with tariffs of their own.

Sir Keir, who hosted a visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz yesterday, will join European Council leaders at an informal retreat in Belgium ahead of a UK-EU summit later this year.

He will be the first British Prime Minister since Brexit to attend a dinner with leaders from the bloc.