![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4976412.jpg?r=1695626915820\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
A leading policy expert has warned Labour could effectively reverse Brexit by dragging the UK back into a shrinking EU with an associate membership.<\/p>\n
Sir Keir Starmer and senior Labour Party figures recently embarked on a whistlestop tour of the continent including meeting French President Emanuel Macron for “very constructive and positive” talks.<\/p>\n
The Labour leader, who was joined by Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Paris, also made a trip to Canada where he talked to a centre-left conference about the UK not wanting to diverge from the EU bloc’s regulations.<\/p>\n
It emerged last week that bureaucrats in France and Germany mooted the creation of an associate membership tier to offer countries like the UK outside of the main EU group.<\/p>\n
The Franco-German proposal was for four circles of EU membership, from the core wanting full union, the second as the body is now, a third associate tier and a fourth for countries with similar political values but with no binding rules or access to the Single Market.<\/p>\n
READ MORE… <\/strong> Inside city\u2019s crumbling \u00a38billion Olympic Park that became refugee camp<\/strong><\/p>\n Sir Keir has denied Labour wants to reverse Brexit, but a senior economics expert has warned there is a \u201cbig danger\u201d of being seduced by offers of watered-down membership.<\/p>\n Roger Bootle, Senior Independent Advisor and Non-Executive Director of Capital Economics told the Telegraph that \u201cEurope is shrinking\u201d in terms of its importance to the world economy.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cThe big danger lies with a Labour government, doubtless egged on by Sir Tony Blair, being seduced into joining the third ring, i.e., associate membership, thereby effectively reversing the result of the 2016 referendum but placing us in a worse position than we were before Brexit.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Bootle added if the UK sought membership in the \u201cthird ring\u201d of associate membership there would be \u201cdecided disadvantages\u201d.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n He continued: \u201cMore importantly, we would be subject to all EU rules and regulations and would fall under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, based in Luxembourg. Furthermore, we would have to commit, yet again, to the free movement of people between EU member states.\u201d<\/p>\n Remainers hoping to drag Britain back into the EU could be \u201cattracted\u201d to the idea of the associate member route, Mr Bootle warned.<\/p>\n He pointed out the bloc faced mounting dissatisfaction with immigration as well as growing disputes between member states like Poland and Hungary and the bureaucrats in Brussels.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4976418.jpg?r=1695626915877\")
<\/p>\n
Rare earthing mining city feeding global gadget demand spawns toxic death lake[LATEST] <\/strong>
Inside world\u2019s coldest city where locals face bone-chilling temperatures of -50C[LATEST] <\/strong>
Animal charity uses severed head to discourage kids from eating dog meat[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4976423.jpg?r=1695626915927\")
<\/p>\n