PM must throw caution to the wind to get reset’ done

In opposition, Keir Starmer's natural caution served him well and he won a landslide election victory.

- ANDREW GRICE

Sometimes, being circumspect is the right approach in government.

But it's now time for Starmer to be bold in one area - resetting UK relations with the EU. So far, he has talked a good game and,behind the scenes, personal relationships have improved. But tangible progress has been slow. On Monday, the prime minister will step up a gear by joining EU leaders for an informal dinner in Brussels before negotiations begin at a UK-EU summit in March or April.

On Monday, the PM will focus on greater cooperation on defence and security. It’s topical because of Ukraine and Donald Trump, and safe ground as it will probably be the easy bit of the reset. Starmer now needs to bring forward proposals in more tricky areas. Ironically, the EU has made the running with ideas on youth mobility and the UK joining a customs arrangement for the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Ukraine and some north African countries – even though London rather than Brussels wants to reopen Boris Johnson’s threadbare deal so trade friction can be reduced. “We can’t tell them [the UK] what they want,” one EU diplomat told me.