Labour planning EU defence pact if it wins election

LABOUR is drawing up plans for a new UK-EU defence body but faces a battle with France over its hopes for deeper military ties with Europe.

Sir Keir Starmer has made sealing a security pact with Brussels a top priority and will seek rapid progress towards one if he wins the next election.

But he has been warned Emmanuel Macron is set to “push back” over fears the deal would open up French arms companies up to British competition.

Under the proposals, a new UK-EU body would be set up to oversee defence ties, including joint operations and procurement of weapons.

The organisation would have a budget and staff to organise regular meetings between UK and European ministers, the Financial Times reported.

Labour insiders said the mood on defence co-operation had shifted given the threat from Russia and China and the prospect of a Donald Trump victory.

One said: “There’s a wide acceptance that European allies are going to have to do more, and if EU allies are to pick up more of the slack an UK-EU security pact helps.” EU officials are also quietly discussing “how to bring the band back together” on defence if Labour enters power, The Telegraph has been told.

A European diplomat said: “A new government offers the opportunity to change the narrative.”

An EU source said David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, and Nick Thomas-symonds, Labour’s Brexit point man, had been on a diplomatic blitz to promote the plan.

But an official said Paris had been annoyed by Labour’s focus on a bilateral defence agreement with Germany.

“France will push back,” said one official, adding that during talks on possible co-operation with the UK they were often warned: “Don’t forget that other nuclear power.”