Labour Rejects Talk of EU Return

British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has dismissed speculation that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing a timetable for his departure from Downing Street. He said the government remains focused on governing rather than internal party disputes.

Lammy described Starmer as “the most resilient man” he knows and stressed that there is currently no contest for the LaboUr Party leadership. He also called for party unity after a period of internal tensions.

Pressure inside Labor has intensified following the resignation of MP Josh Simons, who vacated his seat ahead of a potential parliamentary return for Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham through the Makerfield by-election. If Burnham wins the seat, he is widely expected to become a potential leadership contender. Lammy nevertheless described Burnham as “a great asset to Parliament”.

The deputy prime minister also described Labour’s recent internal disputes as a “spectacular own goal”.

Lammy was also responding to renewed debate over Britain’s relationship with the European Union after comments by former health secretary Wes Streeting about a possible future return to the bloc. However, he stressed that the government remains opposed to rejoining the customs union, the single market or the European Union itself.

(guardian, bak)