Keir Starmer slams Nigel Farage as 'grifter and chancer' in furious attack on Brexit
Sir Keir Starmer launched a furious attack on Nigel Farage as "a grifter and a chancer", as the Prime Minister delivered a bombshell speech designed to save his job following a devastating local election defeat. Sir Keir made it clear he would press ahead with his plan for much closer relations with the EU, as he attacked Brexit, and attacked Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for supporting it.
Sir Keir said: "I want to remind you what Nigel Farage said about Brexit. He said it would make us richer. Wrong. It made us poorer. He said it would reduce migration. Wrong. Migration went through the roof. He said it would make us more secure. Wrong again. It made us weaker.
"He took Britain for a ride, and unlike the Tories, actually, who at least had to face up to it, he just fled the scene ... he's not just a grifter, he is a chancer."
Sir Keir said at the next EU summit he would "rebuild" the UK's relationship with Europe "by putting Britain at the heart of Europe".
The Prime Minister said: "The last Government was defined by breaking our relationship with Europe.
"This Labour Government will be defined by rebuilding our relationship with Europe, by putting Britain at the heart of Europe, so that we are stronger on the economy, stronger on trade, stronger on defence."
"Because standing shoulder to shoulder with the countries that most share our interests, our values and our enemies - that is the right choice for Britain, that is the Labour choice," he added.
Sir Keir also pledged to deliver "an ambitious youth experience scheme to be at the heart of our new arrangement with the EU.
"So that our young people can work and study and live in Europe, a symbol of a stronger relationship and a fairer future with our closest allies. That is the Labour choice."
The Prime Minister also appeared to be referring to Reform UK at the start of his speech, when he said the results of the local elections showed Labour was facing "dangerous" opponents.
Sir Keir said: "We will be better and do better in the months and years ahead, because we are not just facing dangerous times, but dangerous opponents - very dangerous opponents."
He added: "If we don't get this right, our country will go down a very dark path.
"So just as I take responsibility for the results, I also take responsibility for delivering the change that we promised. For a stronger and fairer Britain that we must build."