{"id":54043,"date":"2025-04-27T06:15:17","date_gmt":"2025-04-27T06:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/54043\/"},"modified":"2025-04-27T06:15:17","modified_gmt":"2025-04-27T06:15:17","slug":"why-the-red-lines-keir-starmer-we-should-rejoin-the-eu-say-mps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/54043\/","title":{"rendered":"Why the \u2018red lines\u2019, Keir Starmer? We should rejoin the EU, say MPs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When the Labour government took office in July 2024, Prime Minister Keir Starmer \u201cpledged to reset<\/a> the UK\u2019s relationship with the EU and reduce barriers to trade\u201d. Sounds good, but what does this reset actually consist of? Mainly, \u201can ambitious new UK-EU security pact\u201d, that is, closer cooperation over people-smuggling gangs. Trade commitments amount to negotiating a veterinary agreement and not much else.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The government\u2019s \u2018red lines\u2019 are stifling debate<\/p>\n

The main problem is that Starmer\u2019s government is hemmed in by a number of \u2018red lines\u2019, which render closer cooperation almost impossible. As Jonty Bloom<\/a> argues in The New European: \u201cWithout negotiating on and around the issues of free movement, the customs union and the single market, the \u2018reset\u2019 is a pretty pathetic thing.\u201d It amounts to warm words and not much more.<\/p>\n

I have been particularly frustrated by the government\u2019s opposition to a youth mobility scheme<\/a> which, as Lewes Lib Dem MP James MacLeary explained, is widely supported, even by Leave voters. The government claims that such a scheme would amount to \u201creopening freedom of movement\u201d, which MacLeary dismisses as \u201cuntrue and misguided\u201d.<\/p>\n

Because of the red lines, debate around the issues is constrained and stifled. Brexit is the elephant in the room<\/a>: Rachel Reeves\u2019 spring statement was striking (among other things) for not mentioning it.<\/p>\n

So it was refreshing \u2013 and rare \u2013\u00a0 to hear an open discussion of the merits of EU membership when MPs debated recently<\/a> whether to (re)join the EU, following a successful public petition about this. Members of all political parties took part, apart from a noticeable absence of Reform UK MPs.<\/p>\n

The huge economic costs of leaving the EU<\/p>\n

In the three-hour debate, MPs set out the huge financial costs to the UK economy and specific hits to business in their own constituencies because of the \u201cbotched\u201d Brexit deal. These included losses to farming, fishing, the steel industry, horticulture, hospitality, retail, universities and the arts across the country.<\/p>\n

MPs mentioned the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimates of a 15% reduction in trade<\/a> since leaving the EU and massive 4% reduction in the UK economy overall by 2035. Some also cited the even higher Goldman Sachs<\/a> figure of up to 8% reduction in GDP.<\/p>\n

Labour MP Tim Roca<\/a> said: \u201cSome 14,000 of 100,000 firms surveyed by the London School of Economics have quit trading with the EU altogether.\u201d He and many other MPs mentioned the barriers, red tape and bureaucracy swamping businesses. Roca also pointed out: \u201cWe are now also in the midst of a trade war, having deliberately left one of the most powerful trade alliances that exists.\u201d The anger among MPs about this dire situation was evident.<\/p>\n

Rejoining the customs union and single market<\/p>\n

In terms of positive ways forward, several Labour MPs mentioned rejoining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean convention<\/a>, which covers \u201crules of origin\u201d and would help to ease trade barriers to some extent.<\/p>\n

But Lib Dem, SNP and Plaid Cymru MPs wanted to go further. Italian-born Lib Dem Manuela Perteghella<\/a> stressed the importance of rejoining the single market and negotiating a new trade deal that includes a customs union. She said: \u201cThis is not just about trade; it is about values, opportunities, who we are and the role we choose to play in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lewes MP James MacCleary<\/a> argued that entering a bespoke customs union would \u201cremove mountains of red tape\u201d and (citing Best for Britain<\/a> figures) could help increase GDP by up to 2%. In an impressive speech, he said the government must \u201cmove beyond cherry-picking and timid gestures\u201d and urged them to \u201cditch their nonsensical red lines\u201d. A customs union would also help to protect the UK from \u201cTrump\u2019s irrational pro-tariff policies\u201d.<\/p>\n

The USA is no longer a reliable ally<\/p>\n

Speaking days before Trump\u2019s new tariffs have shaken the global economy<\/a>, Lib Dem MPs were also at the forefront of warning about the actions of the US government and this was a striking thread of the debate.<\/p>\n

MacCleary said that Trump\u2019s \u201caggressive trade and defence stance\u201d and \u201cappeasement\u201d of Putin \u201creminds us of how crucial our European ties are, not just economically but strategically\u201d. Several other Lib Dem MPs argued strongly that the return of a Trump administration made forging closer ties with the EU a matter of urgency, for defence reasons as well as trade.<\/p>\n

Brexit: a \u201cdisaster for the country\u201d \u2013 but is anyone listening?<\/p>\n

Lib Dem Paul Kohler<\/a> summed up well the frustration and anger expressed by many others: \u201cThe Tories\u2019 botched Brexit deal has been a disaster for our country\u2026 The Conservative government wrecked our relationship with the EU and the new Labour government refuse to take the necessary steps to repair it.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, a response by Labour minister Abena Oppong-Asare<\/a>, which ended the debate, only served to confirm Kohler\u2019s views. She reiterated that Labour \u201cwill not seek to rejoin the EU, nor will there be a return to freedom of movement, the customs union or the single market.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite all the moving testimonies from MPs over the previous three hours, including back-bench Labour MPs, it was as if no one had said a word. And despite Trump\u2019s tariffs causing stock markets to dive<\/a> across Europe and Asia, No 10 has just confirmed \u201cit\u2019s still opposed to [a] customs union<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n

No one in government seems to be listening and the red lines are as firmly drawn as ever.<\/p>\n

For a full record of the Parliamentary debate see Hansard<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Related article by John Wilmslow\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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