Tag Archives: European Union

Labour Should Pledge To Rejoin European Union At Next General Election, Says Sadiq Khan

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Labour should include a pledge to rejoin the European Union in the party’s next general election manifesto, Sadiq Khan has declared.

In comments which will be seen as a direct challenge to Keir Starmer, the London mayor said it was time for the party to “be bold” in its offer to voters.

In an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Khan repeated his call for Britain to rejoin the EU customs union and single market in this parliament – a move already ruled out by the prime minister.

But he said Labour should go even further by pledging to take the UK back into the EU if it wins the next election, which is expected in 2029.

Khan said: “I’m quite clear. On the ballot paper of the next general election is a vote for Labour, a vote to rejoin the European Union, and we should be unequivocal about the benefits of the European Union because we’ve now seen the alternative.

“We’ve now seen what happens when you’re outside the European Union: less investment in the UK, less exports to the European Union.”

Asked in 2024 whether he could foresee the UK rejoining the single market or customs union in his lifetime, Starmer said: “No. I don’t think that that is going to happen. I’ve been really clear about not rejoining the EU, the single market or the customs union.”

However, in his interview, Khan said it was “inevitable” that the UK would once again become an EU member state now that voters have seen the damage done by Brexit.

He said: “We’ve now seen what happens when you’re outside the European Union: less investment in the UK, less exports to the European Union.

“But let me speak from experience. You know, since 2019, and it breaks my heart, I’ve seen Londoners who are EU nationals leaving London.

“We had in 2019 more than 840,000 EU Londoners working in London. That’s gone down to now 700,000, that means 140,000 Londoners have left London, and the two biggest sectors they’ve left concerned construction and hospitality.

“And these are Romanians, Polish, Italian, French, Irish Londoners, who’ve left their friends. They’ve left their neighbours. As a consequence, we’ve suffered economically, in construction, hospitality, but also we’ve suffered socially and culturally as well.”

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Nigel Farage Roasted By Emily Thornberry Over EU Deal ‘Surrender’ Claim

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Emily Thornberry has thrown shade at Nigel Farage after he accused the government of “surrendering” to the European Union.

The Reform UK leader has already condemned a deal Keir Starmer is negotiating with Brussels to “reset” Britain’s relations with Brussels, even though it is yet to be finalised.

The prime minister will unveil the details of the agreement following a UK-EU summit at Lancaster House in London on Monday.

It is expected to include a youth mobility deal allowing 18 to 30-year-olds to travel more easily between Britain and the bloc.

British holidaymakers will also be able to use e-gates at European airports instead of having to queue for hours to have their passports stamped.

An agreement over veterinary and food rules will make trade between the UK and EU more easy.

The UK is also set to agree to give French fishermen greater access to British waters in return for a security and defence deal with Brussels.

Farage said: “The whole ‘reset’ is an abject surrender from Starmer and politically something he will come to regret.”

But appearing on LBC today, Labour MP Thornberry hit back at the arch-Brexiteer.

She said: “I don’t think the public thinks that’s relevant. I think they think it’s political elite talking to themselves and it’s not really about real life.

“They do want, if their neighbours run a small business, to be able to export sausages to France and for it not to be held up.

“They do want to be able to travel to Europe and not have their passport stamped and be able to go through e-gates and be able to travel more easily, and they want more money in the economy.”

Asked specifically about Farage’s “surrender” claim, Thornberry said: “Big word for him, isn’t it?”

She added: “Their’s 13 of these youth mobility schemes already with the UK and the sky hasn’t fallen in, and I think youngsters in Britain would like to be able to travel in Europe and so it has to be reciprocal.”

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Yvette Cooper Rules Out The UK Signing Up To Giving Young People Free Movement To The EU

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Yvette Cooper has ruled out agreeing a deal with Brussels to allow young people to move freely between the UK and the European Union.

In comments which will be a huge blow to millions of young Brits, the home secretary said it was “not the right starting point for us at all”.

A so-called “youth mobility scheme” is believed to be one of the EU’s main demands in negotiations over a new trade deal with the UK.

Cooper’s comments came as Keir Starmer prepares to travel to Brussels on Monday as part of the Labour government’s attempts to “reset” relations with the bloc.

On Sky News this morning, the home secretary told presenter Trevor Phillips that not returning to free movement, the EU’s customs union or the single market were the government’s “red lines” in the talks.

Phillips then said: “Let’s test that out. How are you getting on with negotiating a youth mobility scheme with the EU?”

Cooper replied: “We’ve been clear that we need net migration to come down. Under the Conservatives, net migration quadrupled in the space of four years. That’s the wrong thing for the UK.

“So we’re clear that net migration needs to come down, so that’s why this is not an approach that we are looking for.”

Phillips then said: “So no youth mobility scheme?”

The home secretary said: “That’s not the right starting point for us at all because what we need to do is to bring net migration down.”

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Yvette Cooper, moments ago, ruling out any chance or possibility of a Youth Mobility Scheme with the EU.

\"This is not an approach we are looking for\" pic.twitter.com/smr92c3yOA

— MrBounceBack.com (@Bounce_BackLoan) February 2, 2025

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Yvette Cooper, moments ago, ruling out any chance or possibility of a Youth Mobility Scheme with the EU.

“This is not an approach we are looking for” pic.twitter.com/smr92c3yOA

— MrBounceBack.com (@Bounce_BackLoan) February 2, 2025

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller said: “The government’s refusal to negotiate a youth mobility scheme with the EU is short-sighted and a bitter blow to young people across the UK.

“A youth mobility deal would be good for our economy, especially our tourism and hospitality sectors, while giving young British people the opportunity to work and study abroad.

“This would be a win-win, Labour ministers need to stop repeating the failed approach of the Conservatives and listen to young people instead.”

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