URGENT UPDATE: Kemi Badenoch has launched a fierce attack on the Labour Party, accusing them of reigniting old Brexit divisions to boost their core support. This accusation comes as senior ministers, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, advocate for a closer trading relationship with the European Union.
Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, expressed her concerns that calls to rejoin the EU customs union indicate a lack of direction from the government. “The fact is that the only people advocating for such a policy… do not understand what a customs union actually is,” she stated in the Daily Mail. She emphasized that this move could jeopardize the trade agreements Britain has secured post-Brexit, notably with the US and India.
The political landscape shifts as Streeting suggested that a deeper trading relationship with the EU would bolster the UK economy. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has not dismissed the possibility of reversing Brexit, raising eyebrows among Conservative leaders.
Adding to the tension, Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has urged Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to consider a customs union, despite it being a ‘red line’ for the current administration. Badenoch argued that such discussions signify Labour’s weakness and a failure to grasp the essential power of trade policy.
Listing various government U-turns, Badenoch criticized the current administration for reopening Brexit wounds in what she terms a “desperate ploy.” She declared, “Now that the government is weak and has no plan or new ideas… it won’t. Going back into the customs union would make us all poorer and damage British business and farming.”
In a reflective New Year’s message, Badenoch encouraged citizens not to lose hope amid rising taxes and unemployment, urging them to vote for change in the upcoming 2026 elections. “Don’t let the politics of grievance tell you that we’re destined to stay the same,” she added.
In related news, former Tory minister Lord Gove expressed regret over his role in undermining Boris Johnson’s leadership following the Brexit vote, indicating that their fallout prevented the effective implementation of the Vote Leave campaign’s strategy.
As the political debate intensifies, the implications for the UK’s future relationship with the EU remain critical. Citizens are urged to stay informed as developments unfold, impacting the nation’s economic landscape and political future significantly.
Stay tuned for further updates on this unfolding story as the political climate continues to evolve.
