OPINION – DUNCAN BARKES: Do not like one thing? Possibly comply with Labour’s playbook and scrub it proper out of historical past.
Keir Starmer is hellbent on taking us again into arms of Ursual von der Leyen, writes Duncan Barkes, left (Picture: Getty)
Labour are hellbent on as soon as once more shackling us to the failed political venture of the European Union – a transfer that not solely scrubs from historical past the referendum results of 2016, however one that may value the UK dearly. In a determined try to avoid wasting his crumbling premiership, the Prime Minister has spent the previous couple of weeks outlining why he believes nearer ties to the EU are important. Final week, he was in Armenia on the European Political Group – a gathering of leaders who’ve declared their solidarity with Ukraine and pledged monetary help to the nation in a shared defence fund. At a separate assembly on the gathering, the Prime Minister met with Ursula von der Leyden, President of the European Fee, and each declared they needed to additional even nearer ties between the UK and EU and strike an ‘bold’ deal at a summit later this yr.
It has already been revealed that EU negotiators have recommended that Britain would wish to stump up round £1billion for entry to the EU’s single market – this may see us making funds to Brussels for the primary time since Brexit. The Prime Minister believes that the advantages of a better relationship with the EU outweigh the monetary prices and the King’s speech on the State Opening of Parliament scheduled for Wednesday is ready to suggest new legal guidelines that may permit the federal government to undertake EU single market guidelines with out approval for MPs.
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This isn’t solely a betrayal of the 17.4 million individuals who voted to depart the EU, however an entire snub of the democratic course of.
Sir Keir just isn’t alone in his obsession with binding us as soon as once more to the EU. Labour London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan believes that the get together ought to pledge to rejoin the EU in its subsequent normal election manifesto whereas polling performed by analysis firm Survation revealed that 65 per cent of get together members want to see Labour make the dedication to rejoin the 27-state bloc.
However the temper of the folks of Europe is altering – political events throughout the continent who’re both EU-sceptic or against ongoing membership are receiving larger help. Apart from the political failings of the venture, the EU has at all times been an financial basket case with its ill-suited mixture of stronger and weaker economies throughout the bloc.
The sovereign debt disaster of 2008 uncovered the vulnerabilities of the southern European economies of Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain. Fears of a debt default noticed the EU approve a 750billion euro stabilisation bundle to those international locations with harsh situations imposed on their governments by the European Fee, European Central Financial institution and the Worldwide Financial Fund – the folks of Greece particularly suffered terribly because of the brutality of those situations.
Regardless of Labour’s greatest makes an attempt at trashing our economic system over the past two years, the UK continues to be predicted to outperform France and Germany this yr which begs the query how helpful nearer EU ties would truly be on the expense of ceding extra management as soon as once more to Brussels.
These advocating re-joining the EU reside up to now and searching for what they see to be a fast repair for this nation’s financial challenges, however the world has modified. Fast fixes don’t exist – and whereas commerce agreements with our neighbouring international locations ought to be welcomed and inspired, it shouldn’t be on the expense of our nation’s sovereignty or democracy.
Rejoining the EU wouldn’t solely be a backward step for the UK – however would as soon as once more see us contributing billions of kilos into EU coffers to prop up smaller and fewer performing economies. I can’t fake that Brexit has been the success it might have been – its full potential was squandered by low-grade politicians from throughout the political spectrum who put ego or their get together earlier than the need of the folks, however regardless of this, we’re higher off out.
The battle to develop into freed from the EU was lengthy fought by campaigners and the media – with the a lot missed Partick O’Flynn, former political editor and chief political commentator of the Every day Specific, not solely recognising that Britain can be higher for leaving the EU, however in making certain the Specific turned the primary newspaper to marketing campaign on the problem – others predictably adopted.
It’s usually stated that the definition of madness is doing the identical factor again and again and anticipating completely different outcomes.
Britain can be insane to rejoin the EU – the continued political shenanigans we’re witnessing by Sir Keir and Labour are simply the newest indicators of a failing and flailing authorities with none actual plan for the UK.
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