In brief
Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently acknowledged the significant economic damage caused by Brexit, indicating a shift in Labour's strategy to attract pro-EU voters. The party's manifesto includes proposals for renegotiation of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement, but emphasizes no return to the single market. Labour's leadership believes a closer relationship with the EU is necessary to revitalize the UK's struggling economy, despite fears of alienating Brexit supporters.
Brexit did deep damage. With those words at her Mais lecture on Tuesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves made it clear that there has been an important shift within the Labour Party - one that government ministers have been signalling for some time.
Speaking in such overt terms about Brexit's perceived harms is reflective of the government's belief that, as it attempts to address the country’s sluggish economic performance, it must reset the UK’s relationship with the EU.
The Labour Party’s 2024 election manifesto proposed renegotiating the Trade and Co-operation Agreement to end EU customs checks on food and agricultural exports, aligning UK regulations with EU standards. However, it reaffirmed red lines: no return to the single market, customs union, or freedom of movement, with no suggestion of a willingness to rejoin the EU.
This reorientation stems from Labour's defeat in the 2019 election, after which the party accepted Brexit and supported Boris Johnson's deal. Yet, following recent speeches from party leaders like Sir Keir Starmer, who admitted that Brexit significantly hurt our economy, there seems to be a realization that restoring economic growth may necessitate more ambitious EU relations.
Reeves noted the importance of regulatory alignment with the EU to deliver the economic growth Labour promised but has so far struggled to achieve. The prospect of connecting with working-class voters who previously supported Brexit is essential for Labour’s political future, but the party must also address the concerns of pro-EU supporters who have migrated to other parties.
According to recent polls, a significant portion of Labour's current support comes from individuals who favor rejoining the EU, even as the party navigates its strategic direction. As the political landscape shifts, the Labour Party must balance appealing to traditional Leave voters while reassuring Remainers to sustain its electoral viability.
