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is set to pitch closer ties with Europe as he faces mounting calls to quit after Labour's election losses. The speech is being seen as a test of whether he can steady his leadership without reopening the wider Brexit divide.
Keir Starmer (File Photo- AFP)
New Delhi,UPDATED: May 11, 2026 14:40 IST
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to pledge closer ties with the European Union in a bid to revive his struggling leadership after Labour suffered heavy losses in local elections across England and legislative polls in Scotland and Wales.
In a speech scheduled for Monday, Starmer is expected to say he will “face up to the big challenges” and restore “hope” to Britain, while outlining plans to place the country “at the heart of Europe” nearly a decade after the UK voted to leave the EU.
The speech comes ahead of the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday, where King Charles III will present the government’s legislative agenda.
The Labour leader is under mounting pressure within his party after a string of electoral setbacks widely viewed as a referendum on his leadership. Several Labour lawmakers have reportedly urged Starmer to announce a timetable for his departure, amid growing dissatisfaction over the government’s economic record and political direction.
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Published On:
May 11, 2026 14:40 IST
