Keir Starmer ‘missing opportunity of a lifetime’ by prioritising EU over Donald Trump | Politics | News

Sir Keir Starmer is “missing the opportunity of a lifetime” by prioritising relations with the EU over Donald Trump, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned.

The Conservative former Cabinet minister said Brussels is in a “state of stagnation”.

Sir Jacob claimed the Prime Minister’s attendance at a European Political Community summit in Budapest yesterday showed where his priorities are.

Speaking on his GB News show, the Brexiteer said: “Donald Trump’s re-election is one of the great opportunities of our time. Now that we have left the EU, we are free to cut our regulations, to unleash our latent business potential and boost our economic growth.

“There is no better country than the US from whom to learn, from whom we ought to derive inspiration, and to whom we ought to align ourselves to achieve its higher rates of growth and boosterism.

“The US has been energy independent for years because of Trump’s fracking policies. On average, American consumers pay less than half of what we pay in the UK per kilowatt hour of electricity.

“The US has put the EU to shame in terms of growth. About 15 years ago, the size of the European economy was 10% larger than that of the US, but by 2022 it was 23% smaller.

“The GDP of the EU, including the UK before Brexit, has grown in this period by 21% measured in dollars, compared to 72% for the US. Under Trump’s auspices, this will only get better.

“Meanwhile, Europe is failing. Not only do we see sluggish economic growth, high cost of energy and over-regulation on the continent, but its biggest players are failing politically too.”

Sir Jacob added: “The point is that the EU and its big players like France and Germany represent the global elite, and they are in a state of stagnation and at best, managed decline.

“All signs point to our closer alignment with the US, and yet today we see the Prime Minister, the Reverend Starmer, continuing his charm offensive in Europe with the latest leg of his reset of relations with the EU in Hungary.

“As ever, under the guise of smashing the gangs and closer intelligence cooperation it’s move that tells us everything we need to know about the direction of this country.

“Under this Labour government, we are destined to a miserable fate of low growth, high tax, extortionate energy prices and debilitating regulation and bureaucracy.

“With Trump back in office by realigning with the EU, Starmer is missing the opportunity of a lifetime, of a generation.”