As Labour descends into renewed infighting over Brexit and the party’s future after heavy local election losses to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, Independent readers have been deeply divided over how Labour’s would-be leadership contenders should handle Britain’s relationship with Europe.
Much of the debate centred on Wes Streeting’s call for Britain to eventually rejoin the EU, with supporters praising him for openly describing Brexit as a “catastrophic mistake” and arguing Labour should stop avoiding the issue.
Many readers said Brexit had damaged growth, trade and Britain’s global standing, with some backing Streeting’s argument that the UK’s future ultimately lies “back in” Europe. Others, however, accused him of reopening divisions that previously tore Labour apart and warned his stance would alienate leave-voting areas and hand further support to Reform UK.
Andy Burnham’s more cautious position also divided readers. Some backed his attempt to avoid “going big on Europe” while contesting a by-election in the strongly pro-Leave seat of Makerfield, arguing Labour must respect the referendum result.
Others accused him of watering down his previously pro-European views for political convenience after he had earlier said he hoped Britain would rejoin the EU in his lifetime.
Here’s what you had to say:
A grave mistake
Burnham dropping his call to reverse Brexit is a grave mistake. Neither Brexiteer nor Remainer voters will respect a candidate who acts like a weathervane. Burnham should call for a new referendum instead. After the total failure of Brexit changing countless minds about the “advantages” of total independence, it’s the right thing to do.
Gray Goods
Respecting votes
I didn’t vote Brexit and I’ve never voted anything but Labour, though I haven’t voted since 2001. But I do believe in respecting votes. Reversing Brexit is the wrong thing to do. The EU has become a technological backwater and the Eurozone is too large.
9Diamonds
Push against the status quo
Okay Wes, you have my interest. Any new potential Labour candidate that I would be keen on is one who pushes against the status quo in some way. Whether that is going further left-wing or, in this case, trying to reverse the folly that was Brexit.
I’m not automatically convinced that Streeting is sincere or that he would stick to it, but the last thing that I want for PM material is more of the same.
Bobertson
A losing strategy
Even Andy Burnham recognises that vowing to rejoin the EU political union is a losing strategy.
Streeting has no chance.
In the democratic 2016 EU referendum, 148 Labour-held constituencies voted Leave and only 84 voted Remain.
In Wigan, the constituency that includes Makerfield, 65 per cent voted in favour of leaving the failing, anti-democratic EU political union.
Kingswood
Not a sleep-walk, but a stampede
Not a sleep-walk into gridlocked politics in a couple of years, more a stampede. A PM who was trying to slow the inevitable post-Brexit withering of the economy without mentioning the ‘B’ word being ousted. Of the contenders, one has shot himself in both feet – called ‘re’ and ‘join’ – the other seemingly prepared to ditch his previously vigorous support for the EU simply to get the job! Last year Burnham said: “I want to rejoin the EU. I hope it happens in my lifetime… I believe in the unions of all kinds. The union of the UK. The European Union, and the benefits it brought this country. Trade unions… People prosper more when they’re part of unions. That’s my belief, and I’ll say it clearly.” It’s just my own thought, Andy, but I would start here, “the Union of the UK”, and work outwards. Good luck.
ouleejit
An all or nothing policy
There is no “bespoke deal, or à la carte menu” on offer – we would have to “join the EU” as a new candidate and “meet all terms and conditions”.
That needs to be stated by any politician seeking to do so. They need a mandate to proceed, as it would probably need more than one term in government.
Brexit was a binary choice for an extremely complex situation and was extremely divisive.
The so-called “campaigns” were rushed, full of “spin and speculation” and would shame a “school debating society”.
The people deserved better.
It would be an “all or nothing” policy for any party. Can Labour afford the high-risk stakes?
DBlenkinsop
Grossly misled
We were grossly misled by the 2016 Brexit campaigners, who failed to advise voters of the potential negative consequences which have subsequently arisen. The EU is the only economic zone close to the UK. The campaigners also failed to advise voters of the risks of lack of joint immigration controls with the EU. Worst of all, we abandoned forever the special terms and conditions offered to us when we first joined the EEC.
Puggers
Ignoring the elephant in the room
Streeting’s comments were clearly political – Burnham is standing in a heavily Brexiteer seat – but they also needed saying. Rejoining the EU will be a long-term process, needing a lot of pitch rolling and persuasion, both of the public and the EU, but ignoring the elephant in the room isn’t an option. In an era of economic instability, Trump tariffs, US bullying and the breakdown of transatlantic alliances, the UK needs a reset and reconnecting with the EU is the only option. The world is in a totally different place to where it was in 2016, and it isn’t “betraying Brexit” to acknowledge that – just accepting the reality that things change.
Tanaquil2
Neither easy nor quick
Well, on one side, I can understand Streeting putting himself forward as a Europhile. On the other hand, though, it should be clear – and that is not the case among Europhiles nor Brexiters – joining the EU will be neither easy nor quick.
The EU has moved on since Brexit day and activated lots of regulations the UK had blocked. The UK would have to comply with all of them before being able to join – no discussion possible.None of the “1973 exemptions” are available any longer. Schengen, the euro, ECB, the lot.
To be allowed to join, there needs to be a sizeable – 60 per cent of the electorate or thereabouts – pro-EU membership view, on the conditions mentioned above, not on “1973 minus” conditions or some EU-lite fantasy, for a sustained period of time – a decade, preferably longer.
RebootedyetagainHans2
A really minor issue
I reckon the vast majority of Reform voters would demand that before we do anything to rejoin the EU, we should have a government which will at least try and make Brexit work properly. Rejoining the EU is surely a really minor issue given all the problems we face today, and in fact it would make the immigration issue much worse if we were to rejoin.
OlTom
A trade-off
It is valid to revisit Brexit ten years after the referendum, especially given the narrow result in 2016. However, it is doubtful that rejoining the EU will solve all of Britain’s problems. It may make trading with the EU easier, but at the same time Brexit gave control over migration from the EU, except for the people who cross the Channel illegally. So there is a trade-off. Many of Britain’s problems are not related to Brexit. The political instability is a result of the political and electoral systems – the balance of power between PM, government and parliament.
Wise owl
The abject failure of Brexit
I do not know why talking about the abject failure of Brexit is “a bit odd”. It’s been an expensive disaster at a time when the UK was already on the ropes due to the financial crisis and Covid. Logically, financial reputation and reducing the Brexit bleed can only be achieved with full alignment or becoming an EU member again, which means we get some control of our future again, not buffeted by decisions made for US, China and EU interests.
Theframe
Some of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity.
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