Ten years after the UK’s vote to leave the European Union, Sir Keir Starmer is aiming to reverse the "damage" of Brexit through a concerted effort to reset ties with Europe, a move that could define his political legacy. The referendum on June 23, 2016, plunged the UK into years of complex negotiations, resulting in a period of strained relations with the bloc.Upon Labour’s ascent to power in 2024, Sir Keir articulated a clear ambition to foster closer ties with Europe and address what he has consistently described as the "deep damage to our economy" inflicted by Brexit. However, he has also established firm red lines: the UK will not rejoin the EU, the customs union, or the single market, nor will there be a return to freedom of movement.Last May, his government secured a post-Brexit EU "reset" deal, encompassing critical areas such as defence, food standards, and passport checks. A second EU summit, scheduled for July 22, is set to build on this progress. A key outcome anticipated is a youth mobility deal, which would enable British and EU member state citizens under 30 to live, work, and study in each other’s countries. Yet, this initiative has faced hurdles, including disagreements over tuition fees for EU students in England, UK demands for a cap on participant numbers, and uncertainty regarding European nations’ willingness to issue visas for young Britons.The Starmer administration is keen to ensure that these efforts to strengthen ties with the bloc are not perceived as a retreat from Brexit. Starmer’s government secured a post-Brexit EU ‘reset’ deal earlier this year (AFP/Getty)Nick Thomas-Symonds, the EU relations minister, affirmed: "Labour has a duty to make sure this country stays united, and that our approach to international relations serves every part of Britain." He added: "We’ve reset our relationship with the EU to be able to strike deals that help bring down the cost of the weekly shop and protect our economy, as well as a new youth experience scheme so young Brits can once again work, travel and study across Europe."Mr Thomas-Symonds stressed the importance of focusing on the future, rather than revisiting "the debates of the past which only serve to divide the country." He cautioned against "rejecting comforting answers that might sound good, but are unrealistic and undeliverable," a clear reference to calls for the UK to rejoin the bloc.The anniversary of the referendum arrives amid a backdrop of uncertainty surrounding Sir Keir’s political future. He faces potential challenges from Andy Burnham, who is returning as an MP following his victory in the Makerfield by-election, and his former health secretary Wes Streeting, who has indicated he has support for a bid for the top job. Mr Streeting, who has previously labelled the decision to leave the bloc a "catastrophic mistake," has pledged a "maximalist" approach to forging closer EU ties, albeit within the confines of Labour’s manifesto red lines.Mr Burnham, conversely, has committed not to "re-run" the old Brexit arguments and has sought to downplay the prospect of reversing the 2016 referendum. Burnham has downplayed any possibility of reversing Brexit (AFP/Getty)While he has previously expressed a desire to see the UK back in the EU within his lifetime, Sir Keir last week reiterated his manifesto commitment not to rejoin the EU when asked if he shared that sentiment. He characterised his approach as "slowly but surely building with the EU," emphasising the importance of quiet diplomacy to rebuild the relationship. "We shouldn’t spend the whole time looking backwards to Brexit, and going over and over the Brexit vote, we should look forward to what a relationship with the EU looks like," he stated.Should Sir Keir be replaced, the potential deals unveiled at the July summit could stand as some of his final achievements as prime minister. Best for Britain, a campaign group advocating for closer EU relations, suggested that securing a second annual summit would likely yield deals that reduce trade friction, which "wouldn’t be a terrible legacy." Naomi Smith, the chief executive, commented: "Starmer’s administration unquestionably thawed previously frosty UK-EU relations, and with the second annual summit now confirmed, its hopeful that mutually beneficial deals on food and drink, electricity and, crucially, opportunities for young people will reduce trade friction, tackle the cost of living and boost GDP – which wouldn’t be a terrible legacy, although his own red lines curtailed anything more lucrative." Streeting has called the decision to leave the EU a ‘catastrophic mistake’ (PA)She added that beyond these deals, and given the EU’s aversion to a "pick ’n’ mix" approach, both sides would need to consider options for deeper integration, such as a customs union arrangement, single market access, or full EU membership. Ms Smith highlighted the group’s modelling, which indicates that only full EU membership "gives the economy what it needs and progressive voters what they want."Meanwhile, the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, has described Brexit as "an act of enormous economic self-harm for the UK," arguing that the reset should go further and that a public vote on rejoining should be held. "We should be moving towards closer alignment, including re-joining the customs union and single market, and giving the public a say on our long-term future with Europe at the next general election," he urged. He cited new City Hall analysis suggesting the UK economy is now approximately 5 per cent smaller than comparable European economies since the 2016 vote. "It has made everyday goods and services more expensive and placed real pressure on key sectors like hospitality, retail, construction and professional services, all vital to London’s economy and to jobs across the capital," he explained.The Liberal Democrats have also called for Sir Keir to pursue closer defence relations with Europe and to rejoin the single market. Their leader, Sir Ed Davey, has urged Mr Burnham to abandon Labour’s red lines, contending they have kept ministers "hemmed in" by limits established over five years ago, prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the hypothetical return of Donald Trump to the White House.Sadiq Khan has called Brexit ‘an act of enormous economic self-harm for the UK’ (AFP/Getty)However, Sir Keir’s current limits appear to largely align with public sentiment. Research released earlier this month indicates that while the British public supports a closer relationship with the EU, it is not yet fully behind rejoining the bloc. A study by Ipsos, King’s College London, and UK in a Changing Europe revealed that almost half of those polled favoured a closer relationship, with 60 per cent desiring greater co-operation on defence. The study also highlighted a nuanced picture, varying depending on the trade-offs presented. Keiran Pedley, research director at Ipsos, noted: "On face value, there is openness to greater alignment and rule-taking to facilitate a stronger trading relationship but arguments about sovereignty – especially when it comes to immigration – remain persuasive."Earlier this month, The Independent launched its new campaign, "Europe: The Way Back", which will investigate the impact of Brexit and explore the UK's future relationship with Europe. Sign up to our free Europe: The Way Back newsletter here.