Keir Starmer has made some of his strongest comments yet about Britain’s post-Brexit relationship with the European Union.

Keir Starmer risks betraying millions of Britons after admitting he is prepared to get closer to the EU’s single market. The Prime Minister faced a fresh Brexit battle when he insisted Britain should “go further” in strengthening ties with Brussels.

MPs reacted with fury to the Labour leader’s confirmation that he is prepared to align the UK even more closely with the EU. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said: “This die-hard remainer Prime Minister, surrounded by a cabinet of fellow remainers, is hell-bent on bringing Britain back into Brussels’ orbit by any means necessary.

“Closer alignment with the single market means handing over our hard-won sovereignty and accepting freedom of movement. That would shatter yet another Labour election pledge and betray the millions who voted to take back control of our borders. Why would we want to get closer to a failing EU economic model where Germany is in recession”

Labour’s 2024 manifesto promised closer ties to the EU but said that there will be “no return to the single market, the customs union or freedom of movement”.

The UK last year signed an agreement with the EU which includes a security and defence pact, fewer restrictions on British food exporters and visitors, and a fishing agreement.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “Labour’s Brexit betrayal is becoming clearer by the day.

“In a desperate bid to appease his backbenchers, Keir Starmer is pursuing alignment with the Single Market – surrendering our freedom to cut regulation and strike our own trade deals.

“Only the Conservatives will hold Labour to account for trying to undo the democratic decision of the British people.”

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Sir Keir poured cold water on suggestions the UK should re-join a customs union with the bloc after his Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the arrangement had “enormous economic benefits”.

Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show, the Prime Minister pointed to steps taken to align with the EU more closely on agriculture and food, adding: “That’s the sovereign decision that we have taken.

“I think we should get closer, and if it’s in our national interest to have even closer alignment with the single market, then we should consider that, we should go that far.”

Sir Keir added: “I think it’s in our national interest to go further.

“What I would say about the customs union is that I argued for a customs union for many years with the EU, but a lot of water has now gone under the bridge.

“I do understand why people are saying ‘wouldn’t it be better to go to the customs union?’ I actually think that now we’ve done deals with the US which are in our national interest, now we’ve done deals with India which are in our national interest, we are better looking to the single market rather than the customs union for our further alignment.”

But the Prime Minister insisted freedom of movement – a core principle of the EU single market – was off the table as he faced questions about what concessions he was willing to offer in return.

Asked whether he was prepared to allow EU citizens with no limit to come to the UK, he said: “No.

“But we are looking at a youth mobility scheme which will be for young people to travel, to work, to enjoy themselves in different European countries, to have that experience.”

Sir Keir has recently faced pressure from his backbenchers to change course on a customs union, with some 13 Labour MPs backing proposals that would pave the way for such an arrangement in a Commons vote last month.

Downing Street said later in December that the Government will adhere to its “red lines” on the EU relationship, which include not rejoining the single market, the customs union, or reverting to freedom of movement.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy also suggested it could be beneficial for the UK to consider re-entering a customs union with the EU.

Meanwhile Labour leadership hopeful Andy Burnham said in September that he wanted to see the UK rejoin the EU in lifetime.

Sir Keir has toughened the Government’s stance on Brexit ahead of a possible battering for Labour as May’s local elections, votes in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly.

The Liberal Democrats plan to table an amendment to the upcoming legislation that would impose a legal duty on the Government to initiate negotiations on a customs union with the EU, in an effort to force a fresh vote on the issue.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Businesses are drowning in red tape and families are paying the price for the appalling Brexit deal left by the Conservatives. But so far the Labour government has been far too timid, only tinkering around the edges when it comes to rebuilding our ties with Europe.

“This year, the Prime Minister must finally get a grip on the cost-of-living crisis by negotiating an EU-UK customs union, to boost growth and put money back in people’s pockets.

“Liberal Democrats stand ready to work with Labour MPs and others across Parliament to force the government to change course.”