Greater unity with the rest of Europe is patriotic, as Neil Kinnock says

Neil Kinnock, a leading figure in the “No” campaign in the 1975 referendum on Britain’s membership of the European community, made history when she became leader by convincing the Labor Party otherwise.

Since then he and his party have become more resolute in their belief that membership of what is now known as the European Union is in Britain’s national interest.

This means he is the ideal person to comment on the paradox of the Labor government: “a workforce The “government”, as it calls itself, stands firmly against any attempt to revisit the issue, which was decided in the second referendum 10 years ago last month.

“The only patriotic thing to do is to return us to the European Union,” he says Independent in an exclusive interview. “It’s that raw and simple.” The economic case for membership is overwhelming and the benefits of sovereignty remain largely conceptual. As Lord Kinnock points out, Nigel Farage has not praised them for some years.

In a deft take on those who want to associate the Union flag with independence from the EU, Kinnock says: “If you love your country and the people who live under that flag and are not content with just saluting the flag, then you will want to take us back into the European Union.”

He argues that the referendum power is not permanent: “A one-time referendum, including a yes-or-no question, could legitimately represent the opinion of a generation or a particular population on a particular day. That opinion could change two weeks later, certainly 10 years later.”

And he emphasizes that the electorate has changed. “Do this for the kids. They haven’t had a chance to have a say,” he says.

But he understands politics well enough to know that it is not easy to simply overturn the 2016 vote in a third referendum. He has a feel for the rhythms of history, Labor Party culture and the politics of the possible.

He knows that if Britain were to rejoin it would be rejoining a different union on different terms. He knows that other forms of association are also possible.

He also knows why Sir Keir Starmer feels bound by what he calls “so-called red lines” – Labour’s commitment in its manifesto two years ago to rule out not just rejoining the EU but also rejoining the single market, allowing the free movement of people or negotiating a customs union with the EU.

These commitments were necessary even if, in Kinnock’s words, they “invited difficulty.” But he says the UK has “now moved to a different phase” in its relationship with the EU.

He is right and Independent‘s Europe: The Way Back campaign is careful to respect the constraints of the manifesto’s promises and the more abstract requirement to respect the outcome of the British people’s democratic decision – which may seem arbitrary to those who oppose it.

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But like 1975, this referendum does not have to last forever. Meanwhile, both the UK and the EU are changing. Relations will be renegotiated at the next summit, likely with a new prime minister.

The summit will mark several changes that will allow for a closer relationship without crossing red lines, but the change of prime minister will inevitably cast a different light on the future relationship. As Kinnock said, “maybe Andy will have a different perspective.” The new prime minister, who recently said he hoped to rejoin Britain in his lifetime, “may not feel so constrained”, as Kinnock went on to say.

The new prime minister is also focusing the attention already directed in this direction on what position Labor should take in its next manifesto.

Kinnock makes a convincing case that Europe should be as open as possible to greater union with the rest of Europe.

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