Brexit: Reeves says closer integration with EU is UK’s ‘biggest prize’
Rachel Reeves will signal Labor will do even more to reverse the worst aspects of Brexit and claim closer integration with the EU is the “big prize”.
The chancellor, who is part of the campaign for a second referendum to stop Brexit, will tell an audience at the LSE on Wednesday that Britain needs to integrate more closely with one of the larger blocs in a turbulent world.
He will signal plans to go much further than the reset on relations with Brussels announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last year, claiming that although relations with the US and China are important, they are no more important than relations “on our doorstep”.
Ms Reeves will say: “A closer economic relationship with the EU is about geography, not choosing sides.
“There are three major economic blocs: the US, China and Europe. We will always look for every opportunity to grow our economy and trade relations, but ultimately only one of them is on our doorstep, and so the biggest reward is closer integration with Europe.”
It comes just days after Labor London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan described reversing Brexit as the “ultimate goal”; both the chancellor and the prime minister have made clear that Brexit will be a dividing line with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK at the next election.
In addition, many now believe that the sacking of former Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, following the scandal surrounding the hiring of his disgraced colleague Peter Mandelson despite his known links to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, has removed a major obstacle to reversing Brexit.
While the government has laid out red lines in the manifesto against rejoining the EU, single market or customs union, talks are ongoing on several fronts, including defence, regulations and a youth visa scheme that would make it easier for Britons and Europeans to work and live abroad.
The talks are being led by Cabinet Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, one of Sir Keir’s most trusted aides.
But Ms. Reeves’ remarks come as she prepares for her spring statement update; He is still looking for ways to boost economic growth after the economy stagnated under his watch.
Earlier this week, health secretary Wes Streeting published private messages between himself and former Labor Party member Lord Mandelson, which revealed he had criticized Ms Reeves’ economic policy. “We don’t have a growth strategy,” he wrote in a scathing analysis of the Chancellor’s briefing.
The intervention also came as Sir Keir sought to renew his government in the wake of the Mandelson scandal and attempt to form a new government, including his former deputy Lord Matthew Doyle, whom he elevated to the House of Lords despite knowing he was campaigning for a pedophile.
Sir Keir foreshadowed a coup attempt this week when Scottish leader Anas Sarwar called for him to leave.
But he is now seeking policies that will rebuild support for his premiership in Labor seats where a pro-EU stance is popular.
Ms Reeves’ speech represents a change of tone for the chancellor, who has been trying to dissuade colleagues, including Mr Streeting, from pressing for customs union membership.
The Liberal Democrats recently won a vote in parliament supporting a return to the customs union, with the support of Labor rebels.
But at the World Economic Forum summit in Davos last month, Ms Reeves urged her cabinet colleagues to abandon the idea of a closer union, insisting that Britain “cannot go back in time”.
Pro-EU campaigners welcomed this change in emphasis and called on Labor to go further.
UK European Movement president Dr. Mike Galsworthy said: “It’s time to state the obvious. By listening to what the majority of this country’s citizens want, let’s chart a course to cut red tape from our businesses, unlock talent mobility, inspire our young people, secure our defense and join the EU to reassert our Anglo-European values.”
“The majority of British people are now in favor of EU membership. It is long past time to start that conversation. Think of what this could do for investment, for the energy of this country, for our sense of purpose. Now look again at how inadequate the concept of ‘closer relations’ is.”
