Do you think the government should create closer economic ties with the EU to boost the economy? The government have indicated they want to align with EU rules in some sectors to create growth:
What the government has had to do in its sectoral agreements though - like the food and drinks safety deal currently on the table - is accept aligning itself with all relevant current and future EU regulations.
The more sectors the UK aligns itself with going forward, like Labour hopes to when it comes to electricity or the chemical industry for example, the more EU legislation the UK has to sign up to.
This has provoked Nigel Farage’s Reform Party to accuse Labour of trying to reverse Brexit through the back door.
I think such alignment would be a good start. Or Labour could try to go further:
Big steps would be to create a customs union with the EU, getting rid of barriers to trade in goods, or joining the EU single market.
But these would go against the government’s manifesto red lines.
What do you think? If Labour does create closer ties with the EU, would it boost the economy, and would it revive Labour’s electoral fortunes?
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I don’t think anyone here doesn’t want that. We’ll need top tier negotiating skills to get the right agreements in place. All that I hope is that it’s mutually beneficial.
Brexit should never have happened, but here we are. I’d be content with accepting most EU rules and paying into the budget. I draw the line at losing the pound and freedom of movement.
I draw the line at losing the pound and freedom of movement.
That may very well be Brussel’s red line though.
Keeping the pound might be feasible as there is already precedent from other counties. But freedom of movement. That’s going to be non-negotiable.
It’s a shame the EU didn’t throw David Cameron a bone on FoM prior to the referendum happening. At the same time, the UK should have used all tools available to limit what it could.
Funny how the EU has internal borders all over the place now due to Merkel’s 2014 refugee fuck up.
FoM may not be required for EEA-lite. We have some more to give than Norway, Iceland, and CH.
I actually think the EEA would be a good middle ground between the EU and the UK. Honestly why this wasn’t a suggestion after the referendum goes to show how badly our politicians look out for our interests or try and defend them in opposition. Had the official opposition at the time you know… actually opposed… then we might be living in an alternate reality in the EEA by now. But that side of Labour (especially back then) were just as vehemently anti Europe as UKIP was (is, do they still exist?). Gotta appease the red wall.
Gotta appease the red wall.
That’s how you get Labour as being Reform Lite.
Freedom of movement was a good thing, and immigration has become far more uncontrolled since.
We shouldn’t rejoin just because it would be good for growth. We should rejoin because we have shared goals and values. The growth is a welcome side-effect.
…but we need to keep a sovereign currency. We’re going to need it to get out of the hole we’re in. We’re going to have to increase spending drastically and the ECB would never allow that.
Good job members only have to commit to joining the euro; they can just kick the can down the road indefinitely and never adopt it.
