Wes Streeting says Britain’s future one day lies ‘back in the European Union’

The MP outlines his vision of the Labour Party’s future in his first speech since resigning as health secretary.

Wes Streeting(Image: Getty Images)

Wes Streeting said Britain’s future ‘lies back in the European Union’ as he spoke out days after resigning as health secretary

Speaking at the Progress think tank’s conference in London on Saturday, Mr Streeting described Britain’s 2020 departure from the European Union as a ‘catastrophic mistake.’

He said “the Vote Leave campaign deluded itself into thinking that the UK could forge a global free-trade nirvana, as if we still had the East-India company at our disposal.”

Mr Streeting added: “The biggest economic opportunity we have is on our doorstep.” He said Britain must pursue a ‘new special relationship’ with the European Union and signalled he wanted to see the country rejoin the trade bloc in the future.

“Britain’s future lies with Europe, and one day, back in the European Union”, he said.

Mr Streeting also confirmed he would stand in any future leadership election against Sir Keir Starmer.

“We need a proper contest with the best candidates on the field, and I’ll be standing,” he told reporters.

Mr Streeting also said he did have enough support among MPs to trigger a contest, but suggested his challenge would “lack legitimacy” without Mr Burnham being given a chance to return to Parliament.

“That might have been the self-interested thing to do for candidates who are in Parliament presently, but it wasn’t in the party’s interest and wasn’t in the national interest,” he added.

In his speech at the conference, the ex-health secretary hit out at what he called an “overcautiousness” in Labour, which began when the party was in opposition and was carried over into Government.

“Instead of a willingness to challenge ideas and kick the tyres, debate was viewed as division and shut down,” he said.

The Ilford North MP added: “That’s why we need a proper contest where all candidates can put their best foot forward.

“It’s got to be a battle of ideas so that whoever wins comes out stronger for it.”