Keir Starmer is running around like a scalded cat: Berlin, Paris, Dublin and now Washington. We all know what he’s doing.

He calls it ‘resetting’ Britain’s relations with the EU and the US. He carries a metaphorical brush and shovel with him to clear up the mess the Johnson-Truss-Sunak train crash government left behind.

It’s more than just a reset, however. Primarily Starmer is desperately anxious to find ways to restore Britain’s export trade, especially with the EU where it has plummeted because of Johnson’s Brexit.

That was the main emphasis in his invitation to Simon Harris to Chequers in July and in his visit to Dublin at the weekend.

Brian Feeney: Does Dublin not realise the British would love rid of this place?

Re-setting of relationships must be followed by focus on border poll - The Irish News view

Trade between Britain and the Republic is worth £90 billion, a lot of it consisting of massive imports of beef, pork, lamb and dairy produce from Ireland. The British have delayed imposing import regulations on Irish goods, first because the regulations and customs sheds weren’t ready, but secondly because of the price increases that would follow.

On the other hand, following EU instructions, the Republic had customs, tariffs and regulations in........

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