Keir Starmer will meet Emmanuel Macron in Paris in a break with protocol

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Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet Emmanuel Macron in Paris next week as the Labor leader attempts to woo the French president in a charm offensive.
No 10 tried to downplay the significance of the meeting between the close ally and the opposition leader – saying it was “not unusual”.
But The talks – said to have been requested by Sir Keir and agreed to by Mr Macron – amount to a change of protocol for the French president.
He usually only speaks with politicians from the opposition of his own centrist beliefs – such as those of the European Renew group.
The PR coup for Mr Keir will see him accompanied by his new chief of staff Sue Gray, as well as shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and of shadow foreign minister David Lammy, according to Politico.
A source at the Elysée told The Daily Telegraphthat Mr Macron had agreed to the meeting to allow the Labor leader to “test” reactions to his policies on Brexit and other areas.
“We are not from the same political family, we are not socialists , but… the strategic nature of the bilateral relationship justifies that we welcome him and this desire to come and test with us the major policies that he can include in his electoral program,” indicated the source.
“What is our vision of relations between the United Kingdom and France tomorrow? What do we do about Brexit? What are we doing with the European Union? ...Does he want to renegotiate the Withdrawal Agreement and how does he see relations with the Europeans overall tomorrow?
A spokesperson for Sir Keir did not deny reports that the meeting was planned for early next week, but said no. I still have “something to confirm”.
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Politics Sep 14, 2023 0 30 Add to Reading List

Keir Starmer will meet Emmanuel Macron in Paris in a break with protocol

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Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet Emmanuel Macron in Paris next week as the Labor leader attempts to woo the French president in a charm offensive.

No 10 tried to downplay the significance of the meeting between the close ally and the opposition leader – saying it was “not unusual”.

But The talks – said to have been requested by Sir Keir and agreed to by Mr Macron – amount to a change of protocol for the French president.

He usually only speaks with politicians from the opposition of his own centrist beliefs – such as those of the European Renew group.

The PR coup for Mr Keir will see him accompanied by his new chief of staff Sue Gray, as well as shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and of shadow foreign minister David Lammy, according to Politico.

A source at the Elysée told The Daily Telegraphthat Mr Macron had agreed to the meeting to allow the Labor leader to “test” reactions to his policies on Brexit and other areas.

“We are not from the same political family, we are not socialists , but… the strategic nature of the bilateral relationship justifies that we welcome him and this desire to come and test with us the major policies that he can include in his electoral program,” indicated the source.

“What is our vision of relations between the United Kingdom and France tomorrow? What do we do about Brexit? What are we doing with the European Union? ...Does he want to renegotiate the Withdrawal Agreement and how does he see relations with the Europeans overall tomorrow?

A spokesperson for Sir Keir did not deny reports that the meeting was planned for early next week, but said no. I still have “something to confirm”.

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