Starmer to say ‘incremental change won’t cut it’ in major make-or-break speech to avert leadership challenge – UK politics live

Prime minister will try to convince Labour MPs to back him after suffering major election losses last week

In his speech this morning, Keir Starmer will confirm that he wants to strengthen ties with the EU. According to extracts released in advance, he will say:

This Labour government will be defined by rebuilding our relationship and by putting Britain at the heart of Europe. So that we are stronger on the economy, on trade, on defence, you name it.

Because standing shoulder to shoulder with the countries that most share our interests, our values and our enemies – that is the right choice for Britain, that is the Labour choice.

We’ve not touched the sides on what we can do with the European Union within the manifesto commitments, and I think that’s what you’re going to start seeing more of from Keir today.

To meet the challenges that our country faces, incremental change won’t cut it.

On growth, defence, Europe, energy – we need a bigger response than we anticipated in 2024 because these are not ordinary times.