Starmer ready for closer alignment with the EU 'in the national interest'
His comments are the strongest yet about how the UK's post-Brexit relationship with the EU could evolve.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has told the BBC the UK should move towards closer alignment with EU markets "if it's in our national interest".
Speaking to Laura Kuenssberg, Sir Keir said it would be "better looking to the single market rather than the customs union for our further alignment", in order to protect trade deals with India and the US.
But he ruled out rejoining the existing EU single market or customs union.
His comments follow pressure from some Labour backbenchers to change course on the UK's post-Brexit relationship with the EU, in order to improve economic growth.
The UK is already lining up with Brussels on some rules around food and agriculture to allow access to the giant economic European trading zone known as the single market.
Sir Keir told Kuenssberg on her Sunday programme: "I think we should get closer, and if it's in our national interest to have even closer alignment with the single market, then we should consider that, we should go that far.
"I think it's in our national interest to go further."
He added: "I actually think that now we've done deals with the US, which are in our national interest, now we've done deals with India which are in our national interest, we are better looking to the single market rather than the customs union for our further alignment. And it wouldn't be in our interest now to give up."
Downing Street said in December that the government would be sticking to its "red lines" on the EU relationship - which include not rejoining the single market, customs union or returning to freedom of movement.
At the end of last year, the UK's most senior trade unionist, Paul Nowak, told the BBC "the closest possible economic and political relationship with the European Union" was "essential" to boost economic growth by lowering barriers with the UK's biggest market.
Deputy prime minister David Lammy also told the News Agents podcast last month that rejoining the EU's customs union was "not currently our policy" - but highlighted that Turkey had seen growth as a result of its own union with the bloc.
Turkey's deal does not apply to agricultural goods or services but removes point of origin checks, which have proved troublesome for the post-Brexit UK, and has been suggested as an alternative for the UK.
