UK to look at closer alignment with the EU: Starmer

Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the UK should move towards closer alignment with EU markets “if it’s in our national interest”.

Speaking to the BBC, it would be “better looking to the single market rather than the customs union for our further alignment”, in order to protect trade deals with India and the US.

However, he ruled out revisiting manifesto promises not to rejoin the EU single market or customs union, or to end freedom of movement.

“I think we should get closer, and if it’s in our national interest to have even closer alignment with the single market, then we should consider that, we should go that far.

“I think it’s in our national interest to go further.”

“I actually think that now we’ve done deals with the US, which are in our national interest, now we’ve done deals with India which are in our national interest, we are better looking to the single market rather than the customs union for our further alignment. And it wouldn’t be in our interest now to give up.”

The comments come as new Ipsos data shows Brits are uncertain about 2026, with discontent around Prime Minister Keir Starmer continuing to grow.

The data shows that the public remains divided on their outlook for the new year, with 27% feeling optimistic about 2026 being a better year than the one just gone, while 31% believe it will be worse than 2025. Age plays a significant role in outlook, as younger Britons (aged 16-34) are more optimistic (46%) compared to older age groups.

When asked what 2026 may hold for a number of Britain’s leading politicians:

43% think that Keir Starmer will still be Prime Minister at the end of the year (37% unlikely). Belief in his staying power has dropped notably since 2024, when 61% predicted (correctly) he would still be PM by the end of this year.
The same proportion (43%) think that Kemi Badenoch will still be Leader of the Conservatives at the end of 2026 (down from 49% in 2024 who predicted she would still be leader at the end of 2025). 29% think it unlikely.
Just 27% think that Rachel Reeves will still be Chancellor at the end of the year, with half (47%) believing it’s likely that she is ousted.