Slowly but surely, the feeling that Brexit was a mistake and that, if there were a new referendum, they would vote to remain in the European Union (EU) is spreading among the citizens of the United Kingdom. It now barely exceeds 52% of the population, but the consequences of the seven years since the consultation mean that, little by little, for more and more Britons the priorities are the economy, health and inflation, and not Brexit.
In this scenario, while the Conservative Party continues to sink in the polls, the Labor Party, which is hoping to return to power in next year’s elections, is moving cautiously on the issue of Brexit so as not to upset the Brexiteers in its ranks.
Starmer wants a trade relationship “that works”, but does not talk about returning to the EU
The flag of a return to Europe does not seem to be raised by Labour, whose strategy, according to its leader Keir Starmer, is to seek a renegotiation of the Brexit agreement when it reaches Downing Street. A turn of the helm to return to Europe seems ruled out and some analysts point out that it would only be possible if Labor won the next two elections, then proposed another referendum and won it. A very distant horizon.
At the moment, what Starmer is considering if he wins the elections next year is a review of the Brexit agreements, scheduled for 2025. Yesterday, the Labor leader promised that he will renegotiate that agreement “to make it work.” That year, London and Brussels are scheduled to evaluate how the implementation of the trade and cooperation agreement, in force since 2021, has gone. “It is not about re-entering,” said Starmer, “but I refuse to accept that we cannot make it work.” ”. The Labor leader, who rules out a British return to the customs union and the single market, will meet Macron today in Paris, where he is expected to insist on that message of rapprochement with the EU. Even the current premier, the conservative Rishi Sunak, has been seeking for months to improve relations with the Union.
It remains to be seen whether Brussels would be open to making changes to the agreement, forced by Boris Johnson, and would be willing to go beyond improving some details in the agreements. In the community capital they remember that the 2025 meeting is only a mechanism to verify the application of what was agreed, not an opportunity to renegotiate the conditions of the agreement.
Only for 10% of Britons is Regrexit a priority issue. Labor knows this and will not take steps that offend the citizens who supported Brexit and whose votes it needs to win the elections. The conservatives have already come out to reproach him for his supposed change of position and are wondering what price Starmer is willing to pay to renegotiate relations with the EU.
2023-09-18 22:38:31
#Labor #seeks #rewrite #Brexit #Editorial
