One sniff of Brexit backpedalling will be dire for Starmer

AS EU chiefs meet in London today at a “reset summit” regarding the UK’s future relationship with the bloc, the message to Keir Starmer is clear: Do not betray Brexit.

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The guestlist for this meeting is certainly heavyweight. Alongside ministers of EU states and their representatives, the PM will also be hosting Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, president of the European Council.

They will discuss closer co-operation between the UK and the EU across a variety of areas. Brexiteers will be concerned this first summit is the beginning of a ploy to somehow covertly rejoin the EU. Their concerns are justified. Throughout his career, Starmer has been a proponent of membership of the EU and, along with his Labour pals, he did as much as possible to thwart Brexit.

He led the parliamentary opposition to the UK leaving the EU. A glance at his record shows he voted dozens of times against legislation needed to take this country out of the bloc. Despite pledging in recent months that he is not attempting to overturn Brexit, it's hard to see how he can be trusted.

Let us not forget that during the first several months of his Government, various measures were introduced that had not been in Labour's manifesto such as the axing of winter fuel payments for most pensioners, along with various other U-turns. Clearly, trust is an issue with this Government.