Following a tumultuous end to 2025, the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, began the year with an attempt to reset his Government’s narrative. In a landmark interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg this month, Starmer was defiant on his leadership and set out his intention to end the year in No 10. From a policy perspective, perhaps the most significant of the Prime Minister’s interventions was on the UK’s relationship with the EU; his ambition is alignment, with a preference for moving closer to the Single Market, over and above negotiating a Customs Union.

Following these comments, H/Advisors Senior Counsel, Sir David Lidington, and H/Advisors Brussels CEO, Helena Walsh, have prepared and in-depth briefing setting out Starmer’s political motives, the institutional options at his disposal, the legislative mechanisms the Government is expected to pursue and priorities for alignment. The EU’s perspective has also been assessed.

If you have any follow-up questions, please get in touch.