UK seeks smoother trade with EU but customs union is ‘red line’, Cooper says

Home secretary rules out return to full union with bloc as Keir Starmer prepares for talks in Brussels this week

Keir Starmer will seek to improve customs arrangements with Europe without returning to a full union with the bloc, the home secretary has said.

As the prime minister heads to Brussels as part of his attempted reset with the EU, Yvette Cooper said it was still a red line that the UK would not be part of a customs union or single market.