Leading the polls for the legislative elections in the United Kingdom, Labor wants to erase “post-Brexit grudges” and strengthen relations with the EU
British Labor, tipped to come to power in the United Kingdom during the next legislative elections, affirmed Friday that they would establish closer relations with the European Union (EU) to erase the “grudges” of Brexit in the event of arrival at Downing Street.
“The next elections are an opportunity to turn the page on post-Brexit grudges of the past”, said David Lammy, who would become foreign minister in a future Labor government. In case of victory, “I want to recreate a structured dialogue with the European Union on the issues that matter”said Mr Lammy, 51, as he outlined Labour’s foreign policy priorities to journalists.
British general elections are expected in the second half of this year, but a date has not yet been set. Labor has been leading the polls for months, with a 20-point lead over the ruling Conservatives. Labor, which has not been in power for fourteen years, aims to create a new “security pact” with the twenty-seven members of the EU.
This would make it possible to have “strengthened coordination on a wide range of issues: military, economic, climate, health, cybersecurity and energy security”Mr. Lammy recently wrote in the magazine Foreign Affairs. This agreement would make it possible to complete “unwavering commitment” of the EU and the United Kingdom in NATO, while at the same time a Labor government “would redouble efforts to maintain close relations with France, Germany, Ireland and Poland”.
Labor is also considering concluding an Anglo-German defense agreement, similar to the London Treaty signed with France in 2010. The center-left party has, however, ruled out the possibility of returning to the European single market, the customs union or reauthorize free movement of people if they come to power in the United Kingdom, where the debate on the consequences of Brexit remains lively.
In mid-April, London dashed Brussels’ hopes by refusing to open negotiations to revive the mobility of young people between the EU and the United Kingdom, which has paid the price for leaving the EU. With Brexit, the United Kingdom notably withdrew from the Erasmus international exchange program for students. He proposed his own device, called the “Turing program”. David Lammy did not rule out the European Commission’s proposal to boost youth mobility, and said it would “part of the discussions” that Labor would have with the European executive.