Can Keir Starmer afford to say no to the EUs advances? [Video]

Accused of talking down the economy ever since it won the election, Labour is now desperately trying to buff up its pro-growth credentials.

It has called on business regulators to do more to prioritise growth, promised a bonfire of red tape to get Britain building, and signalled its intent to prevent “nimbys” from frustrating big infrastructure projects through tortuous judicial reviews. Having lost more than 10,000 millionaires, it has even rowed back on tightening the tax rules for non-doms announced in October’s Budget.

Yet there is one lever that would give UK plc an instant boost – but which ministers are less than keen to go anywhere near: rejoining the EU, even in the most minor, technical ways.

Could that all be about to change? The EU’s trade commissioner this morning hinted that Brussels is open to the UK joining its pan-European customs area as part of the “great reset” of relations with Europe…