What happened at Labour Party conference and what will happen next on the subject of relations with the European Union?
Burnham’s speech to Labour Conference has changed the debate in the country and the Party.
The quote on the topic of the EU, is,
We will not give Britain the clear path we need into the rest of the century until we decide on a long-term relationship with what is still our largest market. I cannot say to you truthfully that where we are is good enough.
Brexit has done more harm than good.
We need to restore a higher level of growth and prosperity for Britain.
So, I will take the opportunity around the summit to lay out to you, to lay out to the country, what I believe the different options are for Britain’s long-term relationship with our European partners.
He goes on to specify the options as the status quo, customs union, single market and full membership.
We will need to wait and see exactly what he says at the next EU-UK summit, although he seems to be asking for opinions from think tanks, but not it seems Labour Party conference.
Clarifying the choices and showing an inclination is positive.
Only one option, that of full membership makes sense; the single market is indivisible and being a rule taker is inappropriate for an economy and population of the size of the UK. While negotiations may occur, the opt-outs have gone and we’ll need to show good faith in the negotiations and the more difficult we are, the more difficult the EU and the member states will be. It still needs a unanimous vote of member states. Full membership would also allow he UK to join the EU’s Cohesion programme and the European Green Deal programme both allowing the pursuit of Burnham’s “good growth in every postcode” promise.
I am of the view that his timetable is to give him time to persuade elements of the PLP that this needs to be done. We can see various commentators raising a shopping list of demands on the EU, on financial services regulation, the Euro, Schengen and some even suggesting we need to be outside the EU’s digital market rules. These are designed to slow or disrupt any progress and must be opposed.
The reaction of some of think tanks has been positive with Best for Britain finally calling to rejoin, Galsworthy of the EM correctly sees it as dropping Starmer’s red lines, and even the UKCIE and Anan Menon supporting the move.
Bu underlining all this, is he disparity of size between the UK and the EU, Finland took two years to enter the EU, others have been failing for over a decade. The UK needs to show that we’ have learnt; the EU is a union of people, not just a trade club.