But Starmer sees rapprochement with Berlin as central to his push for closer ties with the EU. Number 10 Downing Street said Starmer would urge the chancellor to focus on going beyond the 2016 Brexit vote to rebuild relationships with key partners.
In a statement to coincide with the visit, the Prime Minister said: “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine our relationship with Europe and strive for real and ambitious partnerships that deliver results for the British people.
“On Brexit we need to turn a corner and repair the broken relationships left by the previous government. This work started at the European Political Society meeting last month and I am determined to continue it, which is why I am going to Germany and France this week.
“Strengthening our relationship with these countries is vital, not only to tackle the global problem of illegal migration, but also to drive economic growth across the continent, particularly in the UK – one of my government’s key tasks.”
Starmer has defended the need for closer ties as a way to improve the lives of “working people”, as Downing Street puts it.
This is particularly important because, while Brexit is far from universally popular in the UK, any sign that it is backing down in the wake of the referendum will spark an uproar among Brexiteers.
