Keir Starmer's top EU negotiator makes huge Brexit admission

The minister who has helped lead Sir Keir Starmer's renewed ties with the European Union says he does not believe the UK will reverse Brexit and re-enter the bloc in his lifetime. Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister for EU relations, said his focus is on building a "new strategic partnership" with Brussels.

The strengthening of UK-EU connections has been a priority for Labour since Sir Keir's arrival in Number 10 last summer. Britain and the EU signed off on a wide-ranging reset deal in May as part of a shift to move closer to the bloc. Sir Keir described the deal as a "new era" in the UK-EU relationship and a "win-win" for both parties, however Brexiteers claimed it was a "surrender" to Brussels.

When asked whether he could see the reversal of Brexit during his lifetime, Mr Thomas-Symonds told the Guardian's Weekly podcast: "I can't."

The PM's ally continued: "What I can say is that the work I have been doing with the democratic mandate from the 2024 general election is building a closer, more constructive relationship."

"What I'm about now, having reset the relationship, is building this new strategic partnership," he added.

He reiterated Labour has "pledged" not to rejoin the single market or the customs union or re-introduce freedom of movement, adding "that remains".

Critics loudly voiced concerns over the reset deal, with Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel warning Labour looks set to "start the process of reintroducing free movement by the back door".

The deal, signed at a summit in London, included allowing more British travellers to use passport e-gates when going on holiday to Europe, an agreement on animal and plant product stands and a new security and defence partnership.

However, a "youth experience scheme" allowing young Britons to study and live in Europe and allowing European fishing trawlers a further 12 years' access to British waters were met with particularly fierce criticism.

Improved UK-EU relations has seen the UK and France launch a pilot of the so-called 'One in, One out' migrants return deal.

The Government is close to agreeing such a deal with Germany, reports say.