Brexit Returns to Political Focus Amid Labour Leadership Contest and Makerfield By-Election
The United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union is poised to become a prominent issue in the forthcoming Labour leadership contest as well as the upcoming by-election in the Makerfield constituency.
Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, speaking publicly for the first time since his resignation from the cabinet, addressed an audience in London on Saturday, stating that
"leaving the European Union was a catastrophic mistake".
At the Progress Conference, an event organised by the "Blairite" faction within the Labour Party, Streeting announced his intention to formally challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the party leadership.
Within an hour of Streeting's remarks, Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake responded by asserting that
"whilst Labour relitigate Brexit, Britain is not being governed".
Hollinrake described the comments as
"yet another distraction... at a time when families and businesses want the government focused on the cost of living, the economy, public services and Britain's defence".
Under Sir Keir Starmer's leadership, Labour has approached the Brexit issue cautiously, maintaining "red lines" that, while advocating for a closer relationship with the EU, the UK would not rejoin the EU's single market or customs union.
In his speech, Streeting criticised Labour's approach in opposition, citing an
"overcautiousness"in policy formulation. He stated the party had been
"too afraid of what the Tories might say"but emphasized the need to address
"the big issues that define our age".
He identified
"three big, important choices we have to make as a country"and remarked that Brexit
"has left us less wealthy, less powerful, and less in control than at any point since before the Industrial Revolution".
Streeting highlighted the economic potential of a renewed relationship with the EU, stating:
"The biggest economic opportunity we have is on our doorstep. We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain's future lies with Europe – and one day back in the European Union".
He clarified that such a move would require securing a new mandate, such as through a general election.
Streeting's statements have also brought attention to Andy Burnham's stance on Brexit.
On Saturday, the Greater Manchester mayor was canvassing for votes in the Makerfield constituency, where he seeks to become the Labour candidate for the anticipated by-election, expected to occur on 18 June according to BBC sources. A victory would position him to challenge for Labour's leadership.
When questioned by about rejoining the EU, Burnham responded that
"in the long-term there is a case for that"but added he is
"not advocating that in this by-election".
Previously, Burnham has expressed respect for the British public's decision on Brexit and maintained that any move to rejoin the EU would require a fresh democratic mandate.
Reform UK aims to leverage the Brexit issue to mobilize voters in Makerfield.
The party noted that 65% of voters in the area supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum.
Precise data on Reform UK's performance in Makerfield during local elections is unavailable due to ward boundary discrepancies with the constituency.
However, approximate figures indicate Reform UK secured 50% of the vote share, with Labour at 27%, the Greens at 10%, Conservatives at 7%, and Liberal Democrats at 4%.
Reform UK referenced Burnham's remarks at Labour's annual conference last year, where he stated:
"I hope in my lifetime I see this country rejoin the European Union".
A spokesperson for Reform UK commented that Burnham
"will not want to remind voters of those comments, but we will do it for him".
Regarding his by-election campaign focus, Burnham told the BBC:
"Britain has been on the wrong path for 40 years."
He elaborated:
"It started in this borough with de-industrialisation, de-regulation of the buses, privatisation of life's essentials".
Burnham further stated:
"we need a new path, we need to fix politics, to fix the economy, get the basics back under public control".
He expressed a desire to see
"re-industrialisation"of northwest England and a council house building programme
"on a similar scale to the post-war period".
The fact that the UK's EU relationship has already been highlighted by Streeting, as well as by the Conservative Party and Reform UK, underscores the issue's continued role as a significant dividing line among political parties and voters.
The Liberal Democrats have asserted that recent election outcomes reinforce their longstanding argument for change, emphasizing that
"without a customs union, we won't see the growth we desperately need, and the forces of populism on both left and right will only grow".
At its conference last year, Green Party MP Ellie Chowns stated that
"full membership of the EU remains the best option for the UK, and we are in favour of pursuing a policy to re-join as soon as the political will is present".
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