Sir Keir Starmer has taken a bold stance, asserting that his administration remains ‘completely united’ as he presented his vision for the UK’s future relations with Europe during a speech in Munich today. He emphasized the urgency of strengthening economic ties with Europe, a move that some may interpret as going against the Brexit vote and potentially alienating the United States.

Addressing the Munich Security Conference, the Prime Minister conveyed the UK’s readiness to align more closely with Europe, not only in terms of defense but also economically. He stressed that such alignment is in everyone’s best interest.

Despite facing persistent rumors about his political future, Sir Keir appeared unfazed by questions regarding his leadership stability. His speech in Munich is viewed as pivotal amid ongoing scrutiny and scandals affecting his tenure.

Responding to speculation about his possible departure from office, the Prime Minister firmly dismissed such notions, asserting his strengthened position. “I reject that. I ended the week much stronger than I started it – and that’s a very good place to be,” he stated confidently.

He further emphasized the unity within his party and government, particularly concerning issues like Ukraine, defense, and the necessity of forging stronger ties with Europe in defense, security, and economic matters.

‘My party and my Government are completely united on the question of Ukraine and defence and security and the need for stronger relations with Europe on defence, on security and on economy as well.

‘And so I think that there is real strength in the position I’ve now set out.’

Sir Keir Starmer at the Munich Security Conference today. Speaking at the conference the PM loftily dismissed questions over whether he was in a vulnerable position

Sir Keir used his speech to send out salvoes back home to both Reform UK and the Green Party. Using evocative language first used on the brink of the First World War in 1914, he effectively warned British voters they risked war if they voted for either party

In what many see as symptomatic of Labour’s desire to set aside Brexit and rejoin the European Union in all but name, Sir Keir said the UK sought ‘deeper economic integration’ with the EU.

He told the assembled European and World leaders that he wanted the UK to ‘move closer to the single market’ in more sectors, as the ‘status quo is not fit for purpose’.

‘My message today is the United Kingdom is ready. We see the imperative. We see the urgency. We want to work together to lead a generational shift in defence industrial co-operation. Now this includes looking again at closer economic alignment,’ he said.

‘We are already aligned with the single market in some areas to drive down the prices of food and energy.

‘We are trusted partners, and as the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rachel Reeves) said this week, deeper economic integration is in all of our interests.’

The PM insisted ‘we must look at where we could move closer to the single market in other sectors as well, where that would work for both sides’.

‘The prize here is greater security, stronger growth for the United Kingdom and the EU, which will fuel increased defence spending, and the chance to place the UK at the centre of a wave of European industrial renewal,’ he said.

‘I understand the politics very well. It will mean trade-offs. But the status quo is not fit for purpose, and to me there’s no question where the national interest lies, and I will always fight for what’s best for my country.’

Sir Keir with the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and France’s President Emmanuel Macron. The PM said the UK was ‘ready’ to align closely economically with Europe not just in defence and it was ‘in all of our interests’.

The Prime Minister with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. Sir Keir has faced a series of back to back scandals including ongoing questions about what he knew when about his sacked US ambassador Peter Mandelson’s links with the paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein

Earlier Sir Keir used his speech to send out salvoes back home to both Reform UK and the Green Party.

Using evocative language first used on the brink of the First World War in 1914, he effectively warned British voters they risked war if they voted for either party.

He said Reform and the Greens would bring nothing but ‘division and capitulation and warned ‘the lamps would go out across Europe once again’.

These same words were uttered by former British foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey as Britain stood on the eve of war with Germany.

The PM slammed both parties as ideological extremists who are ‘soft on Russia and weak on NATO’, and would undermine Britain’s national security, hitting out at the ‘easy answers of the extreme left and extreme right’.

He said: ‘We must level with the public and build consent for the decisions we will have to take to keep us all safe. Because if we don’t, the peddlers of easy answers on the extreme left and the extreme right are ready. They will offer their solutions instead.’

His words were widely seen as an attempt to stave off Labour annihilation in the forthcoming by-election in the key seat of Gorton & Denton in Manchester which could further destabilise his tenure in Downing Street.

If Labour loses the seat, which it won with a 13,000 majority at the last election, the prime minister could easily face a potential leadership challenge.

Sir Keir with the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Munich today. In what many see as symptomatic of Labour’s desire to set aside Brexit and rejoin the European Union in all but name, Sir Keir said the UK sought ‘deeper economic integration’ with the EU

Reform said: ‘This is a speech from a Prime Minister on the verge of being hounded out of office by his own party. This is a man that refuses to find the money to increase defence spending and is making our country weaker and less secure.

‘Reform UK believes our priority should be rebuilding our armed forces, properly funding defence to at least 3.5 per cent of GDP, standing up to China and Russia and strengthening our bilateral relationships.’

Meanwhile a Green Party source told The Times: ‘This is a caretaker prime minister running scared, losing what’s left of his authority by going abroad to a summit on our future security and making cheap smears against the Green Party, because he knows Labour have blown it in Gorton & Denton.’

In his speech, Starmer also said Britain must end its military reliance on America and be prepared to stand on its own.

Calling for a more ‘European NATO’ and a shift from ‘overdependence’ on the United States to ‘interdependence’ with Europe forging a new path towards sovereign deterrence and hard power, he said:

‘We are not the Britain of the Brexit years any more. Because we know that, in dangerous times, we would not take control by turning inward. We would surrender it. And I won’t let that happen.

‘There is no British security without Europe and no European security without Britain. That is the lesson of history — and it is today’s reality too.’

The PM has faced a series of back to back scandals including ongoing questions about what he knew when about his sacked US ambassador Peter Mandelson’s links with the paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.

Sir Keir and Defence Secretary John Healey walk through Munich earlier today. In his speech, Starmer also said Britain must end its military reliance on America and be prepared to stand on its own

The scandal which has engulfed the government and was drip-fed in real time by revelations contained in the three million pages of correspondence released a fortnight ago by the US Department of Justice in the so-called Epstein Files, saw last weekend’s departure of his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.

McSweeney apparently took the fall over the decision to appoint Labour grandee Lord Mandelson as US ambassador amid growing evidence of Mandelson’s links to the late financier including allegations of possible financial crimes which saw police raid Mandelson’s two properties last weekend.

Barely had the dust settled on the controversy surrounding McSweeney’s departure when the PM’s judgment was called into questioned again this week over the ennoblement of former Labour communications chief Lord Doyle who was linked to a convicted paedophile.

It emerged that Sir Keir knew about Doyle’s ties to former Labour councillor Sean Morton, charged and later convicted of child sex offences, at least two weeks before his peerage was confirmed.

Labour ministers including Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy openly questioned the PM’s judgment, asking ‘why on earth’ he did not withdraw the peerage nomination as soon as he heard Doyle was supporting Morton.

Leadership challenges from his former deputy Angela Rayner and Health Minister Wes Streeting have also been rumoured for months as his premiership weakens.

Scottish Labour Party leader Anas Sarwar also made an unprecedented call for Starmer to stand down for the sake of the party just days ago.

It is all part of what Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch labelled ‘Labour’s psychodrama’ as the PM is plagued by brickbat after brickbat just 18 months since taking up the reins.