Britain had taken \u201ca massive economic hit\u201d from Brexit, he said, adding that \u201cthe best way for us to get more growth into our economy is a deeper trading relationship with the EU\u201d.<\/p>\n
Streeting, who made his remarks in an interview with the Observer,<\/a> is not alone within Labour in wanting to rejoining the customs union \u2013 which would allow free-trade with the EU. The debate within the Parliamentary Labour Party and in the higher reaches of Government, is very much alive.<\/p>\n Joining the customs union would, in the words of one Labour MP get the UK \u201cout of the economic and political shit we\u2019re in\u201d, but other MPs are opposed and believe the Health Secretary made the intervention to further his own leadership ambitions<\/a>.<\/p>\n Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy also seemed to suggest joining earlier in December, arguing on the News Agents podcast: \u201cIt\u2019s self-evident that leaving the European Union badly damaged our economy, took us out of an important marketplace and created serious friction.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it\u2019s why every single day that I was foreign secretary, I returned to the subject of our relationship with the European Union.\u201d Asked if he wanted to rejoin the customs union, he answered: \u201cThat is not currently our policy.<\/p>\n Keir Starmer\u2019s economic advisor Minouche Shafik is also thought to be an advocate.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, according to YouGov polling for The Times, 80 per cent of Labour voters at the last election believe a future Labour leader should open negotiations.<\/p>\n Streeting\u2019s words have been interpreted as an endorsement of the customs union, because while rejoining the single market would require embracing freedom of movement, membership of the customs union may not.<\/p>\n Some MPs are supportive of Streeting putting the issue on the agenda.<\/p>\n \u2018A lot of pain for little gain\u2019<\/p>\n A senior Labour MP said rejoining the customs union was being widely discussed in the parliamentary party. \u201cPeople want it. It would be a bold, sensible and grown-up way to get us out of the economic and political shit we\u2019re in,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n But the MP added: \u201cPeople also know No 10 don\u2019t have the minerals to do anything that bold.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"1183424727\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI_278794715.jpg\")
The UK left the EU formally on 31 January, 2020, following Boris Johnson\u2019s election on a platform to \u2018get Brexit done\u2019 in December 2019 (Photo: Frank Augstein)<\/p>\n