Five years on from Brexit, how does Labour want to change our relationship with the EU?
Keir Starmer says that while he wants a 'reset' of the UK's relationship with Brussels, but this will not involve rejoining the European Union.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has rejected suggestions the UK will rejoin the EU, saying the decision is "settled".
As he prepared to meet European Council leaders on Monday, the PM faced calls from the Liberal Democrats to begin talks which could pave the way for a customs union with the European Union.
Starmer told reporters that while he wants a "reset of the relationship between the UK and the EU", it would "not involve a return to the European Union".
"We had a referendum here on that, and that matter is settled. But I do want to see a closer relationship on defence and security, on energy, on trade and our economy, and that is what we're working on," he added.
It follows the fifth anniversary of the UK's official departure from the EU on Friday, with a YouGov poll suggesting that half a decade on, public support for Brexit has hit an all-time low.
With Labour already ruling out rejoining the union, Yahoo News takes a look at how the government is seeking to strengthen ties with its biggest trading partner.
What is Labour's plan for the EU?
In its election manifesto, Labour said: "We will be confident in our status outside of the EU, but a leading nation in Europe once again, with an improved and ambitious relationship with our European partners."
With this in mind, Starmer has said the UK will not rejoin a customs union - an agreement where a group of countries apply one common system of rules and tariffs for almost all of their imports and exports, while imposing one single tariff on external imports.
The prime minister has also ruled out rejoining the single market, a free-trade area that removes barriers to allow the free movement of goods, services, capital, and - perhaps most controversially - labour.
The government has previously said it wants to negotiate a new "agri-food" agreement with the European Union with the aim of smoothing over issues with trade between Northern Ireland and Britain since Brexit.
It is hoped this proposed SPS agreement (relating to food safety and animal and plant health) would "eliminate most border checks created by the Tory Brexit deal" for agricultural goods, minister for the constitution and European relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds told the BBC.
The government estimates that post-Brexit border checks have cost businesses £330m per year, but industry estimates are much higher, at around £2bn, according to research organisation UK in a Changing Europe (UKICE).
Labour has also proposed new arrangements to help touring artists, and a mutual recognition agreement for professional qualifications to help open up markets, with UKICE claiming none of Labour's concrete proposals "are going to do much to help the new government's dash for economic growth".
At his meeting in Brussels, Starmer is expected to focus on defence co-operation and seek urgent progress on a security and defence pact with the EU, but the Times reports that European diplomats want to use this opportunity to gain concessions from Britain.
What does the European Union want?
Starmer wants to deal with the security and defence aspect of his "reset" first and hopes to announce a deal in the first UK-EU summit in Brussels this spring.
However, the Times reports that Starmer will be told a closer relationship with the bloc will be treated as a package, according to diplomats, meaning that if he does want progress on security, he may be pressured to make other deals with the EU.
Proposals being considered include maintaining full access to British waters for EU fishing boats, and allowing more young Europeans to study and work in the UK - something that is likely to be a sticking point given the prominence of freedom of movement in the Brexit debate.
Demands also featured in a document for negotiators reportedly include putting EU laws on food and agriculture into UK law, adopting the same standards of energy and accepting the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, has set five "tests" for Starmer as he meets with European leaders, claiming that failing to meet them suggests the prime minister is attempting to "undo" Brexit.
They include a commitment to no "backsliding" on free movement or the compulsory transfer of asylum seekers; no new money paid to the EU; and no reduction in fishing rights.
The Tories also want Sir Keir to commit to not take any rules from the EU as he engages with the bloc, including dynamic alignment on trade standards, or allowing the European courts to have jurisdiction over UK law. NATO must also have "primacy" when it comes to European security.
How do the public feel about Brexit five years on?
According to a YouGov poll published on Wednesday, the number of people who think it was the right decision has hit an all-time low, with many leave voters having changed their minds.
The poll found 55% of Britons thought it was wrong to vote to leave the bloc in 2016, with the same number saying they would support rejoining the union.
One in six leave voters said that in hindsight, they thought it was wrong for the UK to vote for Brexit, with 32% of those voters describing it as more of a failure so far.
Among all people surveyed, 62% said Brexit has so far been more of a failure, compared to just 11% who felt it had been more of a success.
Nearly two-thirds of Britons (64%) said they would support a closer relationship with the EU without formally rejoining any part of it, while 55% said they would like a complete undoing of Brexit.
Another poll released by YouGov a few days later takes a closer look at why people think Brexit was or was not a success, with 67% of those surveyed believing it has been detrimental to the cost of living.
Meanwhile 65% said it has had a negative effect on the economy, and 64% think it has been bad for British businesses.
The most favourable outcomes of Brexit to leave voters were control over UK laws and a greater ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, fewer than half of those who voted to leave could point to a positive outcome in any area.
As for how Brexit has affected people on a personal level, just 8% said it has had a positive effect on them. Almost half (45%) said Britain leaving the EU has had a negative impact on them, while 38% said they haven't felt any impact either way.
