Starmer's biggest rival is auditioning for his job

Another pro-Brussels think tank, the Centre for European Reform, takes a more hardheaded view. The economic boost only comes if Britain aligns its regulations with its neighbors and the EU lets it access its single market.

That deal is not on the table. Even piecemeal single-market access would mean making hefty payments to Brussels. “The more barriers to trade you want to remove the more you have to offer on alignment, money and movement (on immigration controls),” the CER wrote.