UK’s Starmer wants to ‘turn a corner on Brexit’

BERLIN — Keir Starmer wants Europe to know Britain is back. The new U.K. prime minister is pledging to “turn a corner on Brexit” while on a diplomatic mission to Berlin and Paris.
The Labour leader sees meetings with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron this week as prime moments to shake and make up after 14 years of Conservative rule.
First is Starmer’s meeting with center left ally Scholz on Wednesday. They will kick off negotiations on what is billed as an unprecedented bilateral treaty to boost business, trade and defense.
But Starmer also sees cozying up to Berlin as central to his push to winning closer ties with the EU. No. 10 Downing Street said Starmer will stress to the chancellor that he is focused on moving beyond 2016’s Brexit vote to rebuild relationships with key partners.
In a statement to coincide with the trip, the PM said: “We have a once in a generation opportunity to reset our relationship with Europe and strive for genuine, ambitious partnerships that deliver for the British people. 
“We must turn a corner on Brexit and fix the broken relationships left behind by the previous government. That work started at the European Political Community meeting last month, and I am determined to continue it, which is why I am visiting Germany and France this week. 
“Strengthening our relationship with these countries is crucial, not only in tackling the global problem of illegal migration, but also in boosting economic growth across the continent and crucially in the UK – one of the key missions of my government.” 
Starmer is pitching the need for closer ties as a way of improving the lives of “hard-working people,” in Downing Street’s characterization. 
That’s key because although Brexit is far from universally popular in the U.K., any signs that he is backtracking on the result of the referendum will provoke an uproar from Brexiteers.
No. 10 said the new bilateral treaty will aim to “increase joint action on illegal migration,” as well as boosting business and trade, deepen defense and security cooperation. 
The U.K. wants to agree the new partnership in early 2025, giving talks a six-month deadline. 
Time is of the essence, as dire polling for Scholz’s SPD means he is unlikely to be chancellor for years to come.
After their meeting wraps, Starmer will travel to Paris for the Paralympics Opening Ceremony on Wednesday night. 
But he’ll not be missing an opportunity to meet with Macron, heading for talks at the Elysée Palace Thursday. In all, Starmer’s trip will take in his fifth meeting with Scholz since entering office last month, and his fourth with Macron in the same span — underlining the scale of the European charm offensive Labour seems set on.