Boris Johnson accuses Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves of Brexit betrayal as Labour eye closer EU ties

The prime minister this week made his first trip to Brussels since winning power at the general election.

Asked if Starmer and Reeves are seeking to reverse Brexit, Johnson said: “Of course they are.

“If we’d have been a rule-taker at the end of 2020 and 2021, we would not have been able to authorise AstraZeneca or Pfizer.

“It’s very important and that was how by March 2021 we had vaccinated 45 per cent of the UK population.”

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Further citing the vaccine rollout, he said: “It was absolutely astounding. Unless we keep that proper control, we won’t be able to do things like that again.

“Rachel Reeves is now saying we’ve got to go back to being a rules taker from the EU.”

Starmer signalled from Brussels that issues like easier migration for under-30s and fishing rights are of paramount concern to him when it comes to the UK’s relationship with the bloc.

He promised to “make Brexit work” by strengthening co-operation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

When asked about youth mobility, Starmer admitted there would be trade-offs and “challenges along the way”.

He also admitted that fishing rights would “have to be part of the discussion” as he opened the door to more Brexit talks.

The King’s Speech in July confirmed Starmer’s will to mend ties with the EU.

As the King set out the Government’s legislative agenda, he said: “My Government will seek to reset the relationship with European partners and work to improve the United Kingdom’s trade and investment relationship with the European Union.

“My ministers will seek a new security pact to strengthen co-operation on the mutual threats faced by the United Kingdom and the European Union.”