See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 10:35 BST, 17 June 2026 | Updated: 10:36 BST, 17 June 2026
One of Keir Starmer's closest allies will ramp up Labour's anti-Brexit stance by claiming that leaving the EU 'damaged' the UK's economy and standing in the world.Richard Hermer, the Attorney General, will lash out at both Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and the Conservatives in a speech on Wednesday.He will claim Brexiteers have gone 'quiet' on the promises they made during the EU referendum campaign a decade ago.Lord Hermer will add that those who backed Leave in 2016 have left the Labour Government 'cleaning up their mess'.His intervention comes ahead of a UK-EU summit next month, at which the Prime Minister is hoping to finalise his Brexit 'reset' deal with Brussels.Sir Keir's plans have been criticised by Brexiteers for 'unpicking' the freedoms that the UK was afforded following the EU referendum vote in 2016. But the PM has been keen to talk up his bid to forge closer ties with Brussels as he scrambles to retain the support of gloomy Labour MPs in the wake of his local elections meltdown in May.Sir Keir has also come under pressure to unwind Brexit from leadership rival Wes Streeting, who recently claimed quitting the EU was 'a catastrophic mistake'. Richard Hermer, the Attorney General, will lash out at both Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and the Conservatives in a speech on WednesdayMr Streeting has called for the UK to seek to rejoin the EU, although his fellow leadership hopeful Andy Burnham has sought to play down the prospect of reversing Brexit.Mr Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, is currently contesting the Leave-voting seat of Makerfield in a parliamentary by-election as he bids to return to Westminster to challenge Sir Keir.In a speech at an event held by the European Movement advocacy group, Lord Hermer will say: 'Strikingly, the politicians who were key proponents of Brexit, and major figures in the campaign to Leave, now appear reluctant to remind us of the promises that they made.'When was the last time you heard Nigel Farage proudly talk about Brexit? Or make the case for the benefits it's brought Britain?'The reason he has become uncharacteristically quiet about what he used to describe as his crowning achievement is because he knows the damage it caused Britain, our standing in the world, and our economy.'It was announced on Tuesday that the next UK-EU summit will be held in Brussels on 22 July.The PM is hoping to strike new co-operation agreements on food, energy and youth mobility as part of his 'reset' deal.Yet it remains uncertain as to whether Sir Keir will still be around to finalise his 'reset' efforts, with Mr Burnham and Mr Streeting looking to replace him in Downing Street.Brexiteers have expressed concerns about Britain having to again follow EU rules in some areas under Sir Keir's plans for so-called 'dynamic alignment' with the bloc's regulations.There are also worries about the size of a financial contribution the UK will have to make to Brussels for closer ties.A youth mobility deal, allowing British and EU member state citizens under 30 to live, work and study in each other's countries, is set to be agreed at the July summit.But there have been wranglings over EU demands for European students to pay lower tuition fees in England.A Conservative Party spokesman said: 'Lord Hermer should focus on his job as Attorney General.'
