Sir Keir Starmer should aim higher in his reset with the EU

IN THE FIVE years since Britain formally left the European Union on January 31st 2020, three things have become clear. One is that Brexit has imposed costs, particularly on goods exports, without any large offsetting benefits. That should worry Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, as she searches for ways to pep up a near-stagnant economy. Second, the geopolitical situation has deteriorated. Russia’s war in Ukraine, China’s growing assertiveness and the return of Donald Trump in America all make striking out alone in Europe less appealing. And third, public opinion has switched markedly to the view that Brexit was a mistake, and that if choices must be made it is better to move closer to Europe than to America.