Trending Now - Labour Party's Brexit Strategy Now Prioritizes Remainers Over Leavers
WHO:
Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated, "Let me say this directly to our friends and allies in Europe. This government believes a deeper relationship is in the interest of the whole of Europe."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer declared that "Brexit had significantly hurt our economy" shortly after the autumn Budget in 2025.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
Labour Party
Boris Johnson
WHAT:
Labour's 2024 election manifesto does not suggest any possibility of rejoining the EU.
Rachel Reeves stated, "Brexit did deep damage" during her Mais lecture on March 17th, 2026.
Labour's 2024 election manifesto proposed renegotiation of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement.
Labour aims to end EU customs checks on exports of food and agricultural products by aligning Britain's regulations with those of the EU.
Labour's manifesto maintains red lines: no return to the single market, customs union, or freedom of movement.
Sir Keir Starmer declared that "Brexit had significantly hurt our economy" shortly after the autumn Budget in 2025.
WHERE:
United Kingdom
European Union
WHEN:
March 17th, 2026 (date of Rachel Reeves' lecture)
2019 (year of Labour's heavy defeat in the election)
2020 (year Boris Johnson negotiated the Trade and Co-operation Agreement)
WHY:
The Labour Party's shift in focus reflects a belief that it must reconnect with working-class voters who traditionally supported Labour but backed Leave in 2016.
The shift in Labour's focus reflects a belief that a more ambitious approach is needed to "reset" the UK's post-Brexit relationship with the EU to improve the country's sluggish economic performance.
HOW:
After the 2019 election defeat, Labour accepted the decision to leave the EU and voted for Johnson's Trade and Co-operation Agreement.
Labour accepted the decision to leave the EU and voted for Johnson's Trade and Co-operation Agreement after the 2019 election defeat.
(UPDATED March 20, 2026 17:18 UTC)
In a significant statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves emphasized the importance of a deeper relationship with Europe, reflecting the Labour Party's current stance. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also noted that Brexit has had a detrimental impact on the economy, while the party's 2024 election manifesto makes no mention of rejoining the EU. This shift in focus comes as Labour aims to reconnect with working-class voters who previously supported the party but voted to leave in 2016, a decision they accepted after the 2019 election defeat.
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(UPDATED March 20, 2026 13:21 UTC)
During her lecture on March 17, Rachel Reeves stated that "Brexit did deep damage," highlighting Labour's new approach to the UK's relationship with the EU. The party's 2024 election manifesto proposes renegotiating the Trade and Co-operation Agreement to eliminate customs checks on food and agricultural exports, while maintaining key red lines against returning to the single market or customs union. This shift reflects Labour's belief that a more ambitious strategy is necessary to improve the UK's sluggish economic performance following the significant impacts of Brexit.