Labour’s manifesto for the 2024 General Election promised to ‘make Brexit work’ by resetting relations with Britain’s European neighbours. Some may worry however that the public lambasting of the EU from Conservative MPs and Leave campaigners during the referendum campaign and subsequent transition period might have done irreparable damage, to the extent that Britain might find itself excluded from future European projects. Many high-profile figures in the UK, such as Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage claimed that the UK had lost its autonomy over policies such as immigration, trade, and law-making to EU judges and that Britain would save £350,000,000 a week by voting to leave. All of this was either completely untrue or highly exaggerated, however, they still carried enough weight to produce the vote to leave the EU.
The benefits promised by Brexit have yet to materialise and don’t seem to be on the horizon.
The benefits promised by Brexit have yet to materialise and don’t seem to be on the horizon. This, and the situation the world currently finds itself in, with a lack of economic growth, an increasingly unreliable and isolationist mentality in the USA, and a war in Europe, means that closer ties with the EU are paramount to the UK’s future in terms of its economy and defence. Despite the comments of British figures in the past, closer ties with the UK remain an attractive proposition for those in the EU. President Trump has not been tight-lipped about his lack of enthusiasm for continuing support to Ukraine and even for supporting NATO, and has also promised tariffs on America’s biggest allies including the EU. The only way the UK and EU can resist such measures is by working together on retaliatory tariffs and forming a union to make sure Ukraine continues to receive the aid it needs to defend itself.
...the Polish Prime Minister, said that he ‘missed’ the UK and wished for a ‘Breturn’ to the EU.
Keir Starmer has been quick to re-establish relations in his short time in office. Since winning the election, Starmer has hired a negotiator to work with the EU, has worked towards a bilateral cooperation treaty and signed a defence agreement with Germany, and plans to host France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, at a bilateral summit later in 2025. These actions have been well received on the continent: Macron has reiterated his desire to deepen relations with the UK, especially in terms of security and defence, and Donald Tusk, the Polish Prime Minister, said that he ‘missed’ the UK and wished for a ‘Breturn’ to the EU. Even the EU’s former Brexit negotiator, who tried his best to make sure Britain’s exit was not a smooth ride, has said on numerous occasions that he would like to see a closer UK-EU relationship.
This shows that despite the recent history, there is still enthusiasm on both sides of the Channel for a renewed UK-EU relationship.