At the start of this month, Sir Keir Starmer delivered a clear statement of intent by using his first interview of 2026 to say he wanted “closer alignment” with the EU’s single market. While a “reset” of relations with the bloc has long been Labour policy, the movement back towards Europe appears to have acquired greater urgency for the Prime Minister in recent months. There are a number of explanations for that – the Government is desperate to squeeze out more economic growth, and closer relations with Brussels is consistently popular with Labour MPs and members. But there may be...