Don't rule out EU customs union, TUC boss Nowak tells Starmer

The leader of the Trades Union Congress has called for "the closest possible economic and political relationship with the European Union".

The UK's most senior trade unionist, Paul Nowak, told the BBC that he believed this would be "essential" to boost economic growth and warned that faith in mainstream politics could "drain away" unless living standards improved.

Nowak urged the PM not to rule out a customs union with the EU, which he argued would lower barriers to trade with the UK's biggest market.

Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants to "reset" relations with Brussels but has ruled out rejoining the EU's single market and customs union.

The prime minister fears that recent deals with the US and India would be scrapped if the UK rejoined.