Speaking to a British Irish Chamber of Commerce audience on Friday, Keir Starmer declared: "A stronger Europe is vital and the UK must be at the heart of it." It was his first significant political intervention since leaving No 10, and the case for a UK closer to Europe rests on his view that the US is becoming a less-reliable partner. He had already called for closer European ties before stepping down as prime minister in July.

A warning Europe has been caught out twice

Starmer warned European leaders of the threat posed by Russia, among others, and accused them of being caught out by new realities twice already. The first moment, he said, came when Russia's attack on Ukraine exposed longstanding European weaknesses on defence and security. The second came when Donald Trump made clear that the US will no longer bankroll European security, and that Europe has to catch up.

The shift in relations with Washington, he argued, is unlikely to reset once Trump leaves the Oval Office. "This is about responding to a permanent change of affairs, not an aberration of the Trump presidency," Starmer said. He called for Europe to take on far more responsibility for its own defence and security.

The case for the UK at Europe's heart

Starmer argued that Britain must sit at the centre of any European project because of what it brings. He listed:

• •It is one of two nuclear powers in Europe.
• •It is a leading Nato member.
• •It has a viable next-generation fighter jet programme.

He called for pan-European cooperation on defence, describing the goal as a common security framework as much as a common market. On the economy, he said Brexit had done deep damage to the UK and that he wanted closer economic cooperation and closer security cooperation with Europe.

Dublin audience and the US alliance

Starmer spoke after meeting senior business leaders and politicians in Dublin, including taoiseach Micheál Martin, with whom he established the annual UK-Ireland summit. He said Ireland and the UK stand side by side in the coalition of the willing and with Ukraine.

Even as he urged Europe to stand on its own feet, Starmer attached a caveat: the US military, security and intelligence alliance is far too strong for the transatlantic relationship not to matter.

Where the government goes next

Andy Burnham, who succeeded Starmer, said soon after taking office that he intended to be bolder about closer ties with the EU. According to the report, he is pushing for an open national discussion on how Britain could build a tighter relationship with the EU once the next election has taken place.

Separately, defence secretary Wes Streeting told European defence ministers gathering in Paris this week that those present were "united and unwavering" in support for Ukraine.

Next month, Burnham will attend an EU-UK summit focused on new agreements on food standards, energy and youth mobility.