The question of Europe has resurfaced at the heart of the UK's Labour Party leadership battle, with two prominent contenders openly challenging the cautious approach of outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Wes Streeting, who resigned as health secretary last week, told supporters on Saturday that Brexit was a 'catastrophic mistake' that left Britain 'less wealthy, less powerful and less in control.' He argued for a 'new special relationship with the EU' and, crucially, stated that the country's future lies 'one day back in the European Union.'
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, followed on Sunday by acknowledging there is a 'case' for re-joining the EU 'in the long-term,' though he said he would not campaign on that platform in the upcoming by-election in a constituency where Reform UK performed strongly in local elections. Both men are positioning themselves to succeed Starmer, whose government has suffered heavy losses in recent Scottish, Welsh, and local elections.
Brexit Returns to the Fore
The shift marks a significant departure from Starmer's strategy, which sought to improve ties with Brussels without reopening the Brexit debate, in an effort to retain voters tempted by Nigel Farage's Reform UK. Streeting's comments, in particular, have drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and from Starmer loyalists, who fear the issue could further divide the party. However, polling suggests that a pro-EU stance could rally Labour's membership—who will elect the next leader—and attract left-leaning voters who have defected to the Greens.
As I travelled by train through England's north-west on Saturday, the political polarisation that Brexit exposed was starkly visible. The train carried protesters heading to London for both a pro-Palestinian march and a far-right rally organised by activist Tommy Robinson. It is hard to recall a moment when such divisions were so palpable in everyday life.
In Brussels, EU officials had been hopeful that an upcoming UK-EU summit could yield a breakthrough in the long-awaited 'reset' of relations, including a deal on agrifood exports. Starmer's supporters insist the government remains focused on that agenda, but the leadership turmoil casts serious doubt on the UK's ability to deliver on the trade reset.
Andalucía Elections: PP Loses Majority, Far Right Poised to Govern
In Spain, the conservative Partido Popular (PP) lost its majority in regional elections in Andalucía on Sunday, and will likely need the support of the far-right Vox party to form a government. The result is seen as a litmus test for the country's political landscape ahead of next year's general election. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's Socialists suffered a heavy defeat.
The vote comes amid a growing controversy over allegations that Madrid misused European funds to cover national pension expenses. The government denies the claims, calling it an accounting technicality, and a Spanish official told our Europe Editor Maria Tadeo that 'not a single euro' of EU money was used for pensions. The European Commission has backed Spain, but the dispute has already angered frugal member states sceptical of joint debt, potentially complicating French and Spanish efforts to extend the Covid-era joint borrowing mechanism.
Mass Ukrainian Drone Strikes Kill Four in Russia
A massive Ukrainian drone attack over the weekend killed at least four people in Russia, including three in the Moscow region. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes were a 'justified response' to Russia's prolongation of the war, adding that Ukraine is learning to overcome Russian air defences even in heavily protected areas like Moscow. Russia's Defence Ministry reported intercepting 556 drones overnight, with another 30 shot down later on Sunday.
Von der Leyen Hails 'Dynamic New Era' in EU-India Relations
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Stockholm, vowing to deliver an investment agreement to complement the EU-India trade deal signed in January. 'This is the missing piece of the puzzle in our reinforced economic cooperation,' von der Leyen said, describing trade as 'only half of the equation.' She added that the 'dynamic new era in EU-India relations opens historic opportunities, and we are determined to seize them.'
