UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer comes under pressure from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and MPs to consider a new Britain-EU customs union.
The Independent reports Labour leader Keir Starmer faces calls to form a new UK-EU customs union to boost economic growth.
How are the Liberal Democrats pressuring Labour to challenge the Tory Brexit deal?
The Liberal Democrats are calling on Labour backbenchers to endorse a motion they plan to table in Parliament under the 10-minute rule on Tuesday.
The movement is expected to be brought by the party’s Europe spokesman, Al Pinkerton. A debate may be triggered if an MP speaks against the motion, though this outcome is not assured.
According to the Liberal Democrats, today’s vote is “on a knife edge,” though government sources denied this on Monday, 8 December.
Mr Pinkerton said,
“Given the debate on this issue within his own party and cabinet, it is only right that the Prime Minister gives his MPs a free vote so they can show their support for a new customs union deal.”
He stated there was
“debate on this issue within (Sir Keir’s) own party and Cabinet.”
Mr Pinkerton added,
“A closer trade deal with the EU is a no-brainer. It is the single biggest thing we could do to boost the economy, generate billions for our public services and put money back in people’s pockets.”
“I would urge Labour MPs to back our bill this week so we can start to undo the damage done by the disastrous Conservative Brexit deal. Labour supporters would overwhelmingly back a customs union with the EU. It’s time the government listened to them and changed course,”
he continued.
Before today’s motion, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey wrote to the prime minister, claiming the government has so far “failed to take the steps necessary to properly begin undoing the damage” of the deal struck under the Conservatives.
Shadow ministers from the Tories criticized Mr Davey, claiming the Lib Dems will
“never stop trying to reopen the debates of the past.”
What did Sir Keir Starmer say about Labour’s stance on the EU?
Last week, Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that Labour would adhere to its manifesto, aiming to boost the UK’s relationship with Brussels while not rejoining the customs union, single market, or freedom of movement.
He said,
“The position that we are taking has been clearly set out in the manifesto and then we’ve been following it.”
In an interview with The Observer, the Prime Minister left open the door for the UK rejoining the EU, saying discussions are ongoing with European partners
“about how we can be closer.”
When asked repeatedly if he still believed the UK would not rejoin the EU during his lifetime, as promised during last year’s election, the Labour leader refused to comment.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came after growing demands from senior Labour officials and Downing Street to reverse Brexit.
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy declined to rule out the prospect, answering seven times without confirmation.
According to him, the government’s policy does not currently include rejoining the customs union, though he said it is “self-evident” that other countries have seen growth after doing so.
Following Mr Lammy’s comments, the Prime Minister issued a rebuke through his spokesman, reaffirming that rejoining the customs union remains one of the government’s “red lines” and is not policy.
A Downing Street spokesperson said,
“We are strengthening relations with the EU whilst sticking to our red lines. There’s no credible economic vision for Britain not positioning as an open trading economy.”
They added,
“We have to be grown-up about tradeoffs. We have redefined bonds with the EU and stuck to our red lines.”
What did Labour voters think about rejoining the EU customs union?
A new survey shows that two-thirds of 2024 Labour voters prefer Sir Keir Starmer to drop Brexit red lines and join an EU customs union rather than raise taxes.
The Savanta poll found that only 18 per cent of Labour voters would support raising taxes while remaining outside the EU’s customs union.
The poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats found that 67% of respondents supported rejoining the customs union over raising taxes.
A majority of UK adults, 52%, said they would prefer the government to join a customs union with the EU, compared with 21% who opposed it.
What is the EU customs union?
The EU Customs Union is a core part of the EU’s founding agreements and legal framework. It creates a single customs territory where goods move freely between member states without tariffs, quotas, or checks, while a common external tariff applies to imports from non-EU countries.
The union backs the Single Market by eliminating the need for rules of origin checks within the EU, allowing frictionless trade between member states. It requires a common trade policy, with collective trade agreements, shared customs rules, and revenue distribution among member states.