The 100-Year Life Health Education and Government
Labour’s approach to UK-EU relations is causing frustration in both Brussels and Whitehall, where sources say they have “seen no evidence of a plan” from Keir Starmer and his team. Their trip this week to Berlaymont was a damp squib – no movement on youth mobility or indeed anything of substance to report – but it still put the issue of Europe at the top of the UK’s political agenda for the first time since the Blenheim Palace summit in July. Having played their cards close to their chest throughout the election, ministers are hyping a “reset” with the EU that their counterparts see as lacking substance. “There is a growing sense that Starmer wants things to be nice and that’s as specific as it gets,” one source said. “This lot aren’t particularly serious as yet, and that’s not a great perception. If you want to be friends, say so – but don't call it a reset.”
In the run-up to Starmer’s meeting with Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, on Wednesday, Brussels made it clear it wanted to discuss:
- youth mobility, which didn’t feature in any of the readouts;
- fishing, but Starmer said afterwards that level of detail “was not the nature of the discussion”; and
- resurrecting regular EU-UK summits, the first of which has been scheduled for early next year.
Sources vary as to why youth mobility was not on the agenda. The main interpretations are: that Labour is playing a long game by refusing to engage initially; that the knock-on effects, particularly on immigration, are problematic for the home secretary; and that Labour is still working out what it wants to do.
It’s being suggested in both Labour circles and Whitehall that decisions are being slowed down by disorganisation at Number 10 and exacerbated in turn by the micromanagement of Sue Gray, the PM’s chief of staff. Officials complain that they are only given last minute warning of meetings – including one of this week’s Brussels engagements – leaving them underprepared.
A senior Labour figure said pressure was building for Gray to go: “Cabinet ministers are now complaining about the logjam – they are expected to have No 10 approval for everything but things simply aren't signed off.”
Many within Labour and Whitehall resist blaming the most senior female figure in Number 10, arguing there is more than a little misogyny in play. But even these people recognise that significant change is required to bring “grip” to an operation that is evidently struggling.
The failure to spot, let alone stop, an onslaught of negative stories about ministers accepting free clothes and hospitality means Downing Street’s comms team is also in the firing line. A lack of political heft is cited as problematic, and some insiders are now looking to figures of the past – such as former Cabinet minister Alan Milburn – to help formulate policy. The vacant role of principal private secretary to the PM needs filling urgently.
Ultimately, Starmer’s party and the civil service are looking to the prime minister himself to make clear what he wants to achieve and take back control of the centre – and not in increments, but a “root and branch change”.
