Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer’s proposal to “reset” the UK’s relationship with the EU has drawn sharp criticism from main economist Julian Jessop, who warns it dangers undermining Brexit and dragging Britain again into the EU by means of the again door.

Mr Jessop’s feedback mirror rising issues amongst Brexiteers that Starmer’s overtures may sign a shift in the direction of nearer alignment with Brussels, regardless of assurances on the contrary.

The Labour Celebration has pledged to enhance the UK’s commerce and funding relationship with the EU, together with commitments to streamline commerce limitations and negotiate new agreements on points like veterinary requirements {and professional} {qualifications}.

These plans had been a part of Labour’s election manifesto, which explicitly dominated out rejoining the EU’s single market or customs union.

Nevertheless, Mr Jessop and different critics argue that Labour’s technique is fraught with dangers.

He stated “Our negotiators danger being despatched on a idiot’s errand, with a woolly mandate from a witless Authorities.”

The plain danger was of ending up as a “rule-taker aligned with a failing financial bloc”, he harassed

The fears of Brexiteers have been echoed by outstanding figures, together with former Reform UK chief and Clacton MP Nigel Farage, who steered earlier this 12 months that Sir Keir’s plans may quantity to a covert effort to take the UK again into the EU.

Deputy chief Richard Tice – MP for Boston and Skegness – has additionally raised alarms, claiming that Starmer’s “reset” may erode the financial and political freedoms gained by means of Brexit.

Mr Jessop, writing within the Telegraph, highlighted Labour’s meeting of a group of greater than 100 civil servants for the negotiations, which he says is a prudent transfer to match the EU’s firepower however may additionally sign an overemphasis on European ties.

He requested: “Are as many sources being dedicated to realising the advantages of leaving the EU?”

As an alternative, he urged the UK to focus extra on new commerce offers, equivalent to with the US, and on bettering home regulatory environments.

Critics level to the EU’s negotiating techniques, which stay as stringent as ever. The European Fee has reportedly insisted on additional concessions from the UK, together with in areas like fishing rights, youth mobility and entry to college schooling. Jessop famous that whereas some proposals, equivalent to youth mobility schemes, could possibly be mutually useful, the EU’s broader calls for typically reinforce its dominance over the UK.

Mr Jessop additionally highlighted the EU’s determination to refer the UK to the European Court docket of Justice for alleged shortcomings in implementing free motion guidelines underneath the Withdrawal Settlement, emphasising the lingering authority of EU establishments over British governance.

He took purpose at what he known as the “plague of zombie statistics” utilized by Remainers to justify nearer EU ties. One oft-cited declare that Brexit would value the UK £1 million an hour was dismissed as “nonsense” by Mr Jessop, who identified that the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) by no means made such an announcement.

He took exception on the tendency to magnify Brexit’s financial affect, citing latest evaluation from the London College of Economics that confirmed a smaller-than-expected discount in UK commerce with the EU.

Mr Jessop wrote: “Any harm to commerce has been far smaller than feared,”, including that this undermines the idea of a 4% long-term hit to GDP per capita as predicted by the Workplace for Funds Accountability.

Mr Jessop additional argued that aligning with the EU dangers tying the UK’s fortunes to a bloc battling its personal financial and political crises.

“Germany and France are mired in disaster, and voters throughout the continent are abandoning the established pro-EU events,” he stated.

He urged the UK to give attention to forging stronger ties with dynamic economies just like the US somewhat than clinging to the fading stars of Europe.

Whereas some enhancements to UK-EU relations could also be attainable with out compromising Brexit, Mr Jessop warned towards Labour’s obvious drift in the direction of deeper alignment.

He stated: “The irony is that increasingly individuals in the remainder of Europe are recognising that the EU is a part of the issue, not the answer.”

Because the UK prepares to interact in talks with Brussels, critics like Mr Jessop warning that any reset should prioritise British sovereignty and international alternatives over a return to European dependency. For Brexiteers, Sir Keir’s EU reset stays a controversial gamble that would backfire politically and economically.