But Starmer also sees close ties with Germany as central to efforts to strengthen ties with the EU, and Downing Street said he would stress to the prime minister that he was focused on rebuilding ties with key partners beyond the 2016 vote to leave the EU.
In a statement issued to coincide with the visit, the prime minister said: “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebuild our relationship with Europe and pursue a genuine, ambitious partnership that benefits the British people.”
“We must turn Brexit around and repair the broken relationships left by the previous administration. That work began at the European Political Community conference last month and I am determined to continue it, which is why I am visiting Germany and France this week.”
Keir Starmer also sees forging closer ties with Berlin as central to his efforts to forge closer ties with the EU. Photo by Justin Tallis via Getty Images
“Strengthening our relationships with these countries is vital not only to tackling the global issue of irregular migration, but also to promoting economic growth across the continent, and in the UK in particular, which is one of the key missions of my Government.”
Mr Starmer has touted the need for closer ties as a way of improving the lives of “hard-working people”, in Downing Street's words.
This is important because, although leaving the EU is far from universally popular in the UK, any sign of reversing the referendum result would cause uproar among Brexiteers.
