As Keir Starmer attends a key EU summit, President Macron will argue that “Brexit has failed,” while the UK prime minister seeks a new defence pact and deeper ties.

French President Macron is expected to tell Sir Keir Starmer that Brexit has failed as he appears at a key EU summit.

The Labour leader will become the first UK Prime Minister to attend an EU summit dinner since Brexit in 2020 as he attempts to forge closer ties to the bloc.

Sir Keir Starmer is heading to Brussels to join a gathering of European Union leaders – the first time a British prime minister has done so since Brexit. Starmer is heading over the English Channel for talks focused on defence and security co-operation and will also meet Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Keir Starmer will travel to Brussels for dinner with European leaders and defence and security co-operation talks with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte

Strengthening Britain's relations with Germany was the focus of a meeting between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday. Scholz met with Starmer at the Chequers country estate outside of London.

Keir Starmer joins EU leaders’ defence meeting as first UK PM post-Brexit Watch live as Sir Keir Starmer arrives in Brussels on Monday, 3 February, as the first UK prime minister to join a meeting of European Union leaders since Brexit.

EU member states could demand assurances on fishing rights before opening the door to closer security and economic ties with the UK, according to diplomatic sources. View on euronews