Nigel Farage has blasted the Prime Minister and claimed that Brexit will be “in name only” once his prime ministerial tenure ends.
The Reform UK leader’s comments come as Keir Starmer embarks on his first official visit to Brussels as Prime Minister, aiming to reset UK-EU relations with particular regard to young Britons’ ability to travel around the continent.
Speaking on GB News, Nigel dismissed concerns about youth mobility schemes, stating: “How many youngsters go on gap year to Frankfurt?
“Hardly any. They go and climb the Andes or they go out to the Far East.”
Nigel Farage blasted the Prime Minister
GB News
He added: “The world’s changed this idea that my mum and dad had, that Europe was all terribly exciting 50 years ago. It’s gone.
“I honestly think it’s a pretty marginal list here.”
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Farage criticised the Conservative Party for their approach to the EU and said it has made it “easy” for Starmer to pursue closer ties.
He explained: “I think the real problem is that the Conservative Party didn’t take us far enough away from membership of the European Union.
“This makes it very easy for Keir Starmer just to ape every new piece of European law.
“And we’ll finish up at the end of a Starmer government with Brexit in name only, come the next election.”
Keir Starmer is aiming to reset the UK-EU relationship
PA
The Prime Minister aims to “put the Brexit years behind us” and establish a “more pragmatic and mature relationship” with the EU.
Starmer said: “The UK is undeniably stronger when it works in lockstep with its closest international partners. This has never been more important – with war, conflict and insecurity all knocking on Europe’s door.”
No concrete announcements are expected from these initial meetings. The European Commission described the talks as “the beginning of a conversation”.
Starmer’s red lines for the reset rule out a return to the single market, customs union, or freedom of movement.
Nigel Farage said “Europe is not as important” as it was to our parents
GB News
The EU is pushing for a youth mobility scheme, which would allow young people from the EU to live and work in the UK for a fixed period, and vice versa.
However, Starmer has so far resisted this proposal.
Pedro Serrano, the EU’s ambassador to London, suggested the scheme could enable British youth to do gap years in the EU.
He emphasised that it “has nothing to do with any of that” regarding migration concerns.