Union boss piles pressure on Starmer to rejoin EU customs union as he calls for 'closest possible economic and political relationship' with Euro bloc
Paul Nowak, the leader of the Trades Union Congressand the most senior trade unionist in the UK, said the government should look at 'every possible' opportunity for relations with the EU.
By ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER
Published: 16:18 GMT, 27 December 2025 | Updated: 16:21 GMT, 27 December 2025
A leading union boss is piling the pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to rejoin the EU customs union as he calls for the 'closest possible' economic relationship with the Euro bloc.
Paul Nowak, the leader of the Trades Union Congress and the most senior trade unionist in the UK, said the government should look at 'every possible' opportunity for relations with the EU, including re-entering the customs union.
In an interview with the BBC, he said the Prime Minister should pursue the 'closest possible economic and political relationship with the European Union' going into 2026.
Labour's election manifesto explicitly ruled out rejoining the customs union, but there have been growing tensions over the issue in government.
The Prime Minister previously said he wants to 'reset' the UK's relationship with the EU, before his Health Secretary - and some would say leadership rival - went one step further.
In an interview with The Observer on Sunday, Wes Streeting suggested he might like to see a return to the customs union, saying the best way to boost the economy would be a 'closer trading relationship' with the EU.
'The reason why leaving the EU hit us so hard as a country is because of the enormous economic benefits that came with being in the single market and the customs union,' he said.
'This is a country and a Government that wants a closer trading relationship with Europe. The challenge is that any economic partnership we have can't lead to a return to freedom of movement.'
Paul Nowak, the leader of the Trades Union Congressand the most senior trade unionist in the UK, said the government should look at 'every possible' opportunity for relations with the EU
Sir Keir Starmer is facing Cabinet splits over the issue, but Downing Street says it will stick to Labour's manifesto, which ruled out rejoining the customs union
And earlier this month 13 Labour MPs rebelled against Starmer and support a motion from the Liberal Democrats calling for negotiations for a bespoke customs union arrangement.
But Downing Street claims it is still committed to its manifesto pledge and the UK will not rejoin any such agreement anytime soon.