RACHEL Reeves faces a backlash after declaring a Labour deal struck last year with the EU was just “first base”.
The Chancellor insisted closer ties with Brussels were the “biggest prize” to boost the sluggish economy and security.
She said steps, such as pacts on food and farming and energy, were just an initial staging post.
In London last night, she said: “The biggest prize is clearly with the EU.
“The truth is economic gravity is reality.
“Almost half of our trade is with the European Union.
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“We trade almost as much with the EU as the whole of the rest of the world combined.
“There are three big trading blocs in the world – there’s the US, there’s China, and there is Europe.
“We want to make Europe as strong as possible, and that means not putting up the drawbridge.”
Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride said of Ms Reeves and PM Sir Keir Starmer: “It’s no secret that Reeves and Starmer have wanted to row back on Brexit since day one.
“Labour are desperate to blame anyone but themselves for their economic failures.
“Starmer and Reeves would rather point the finger at Brexit than accept their poor choices have been a disaster for our economy.”