Labour must break free from its “cycle of hesitation” and forge a stronger relationship with the European Union, former party leader Neil Kinnock has urged.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to attend a high-profile Brussels summit this week, marking the first time a UK leader has participated in such talks since Brexit. The summit aims to negotiate a new security and defence pact with the EU, part of Labour’s broader effort to reset relations with the bloc and drive economic growth.
Despite Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves emphasizing the need for a fresh start, concerns about appearing to compromise Brexit have led the government to avoid deeper commitments, such as expanding mobility opportunities for young Europeans. This reluctance has frustrated some within Labour who believe the British public is now more receptive to a closer EU relationship than Downing Street is willing to explore.
Kinnock called for decisive action, stating: “The government’s talk of resetting relations with Europe is encouraging, but we await the actions that will give meaning to those words. There’s a real opportunity to rebuild trust and secure practical agreements on trade, security, youth mobility, and regulatory cooperation, yet we seem stuck in a cycle of hesitation.
“I find it odd that ‘red lines’ are being drawn before negotiations even begin. In any serious negotiation, nothing that could produce mutual benefits should be ruled out in advance. The public wants progress, businesses need certainty, and economic growth depends on restoring stronger ties with Europe.”
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting from the Liberal Democrats, who have adopted a more explicitly pro-EU stance. Party leader Ed Davey is advocating for a bespoke customs union with the EU, similar to Turkey’s existing agreement.
In a letter to Reeves, Davey urged the chancellor to instruct the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to evaluate the economic benefits of such a deal. “Voters and businesses deserve full transparency on the advantages of a closer trade relationship with Europe,” he wrote.
“The chancellor is scrambling for ways to boost the economy, yet a straightforward solution is right in front of her. The Conservatives’ botched trade deal with the EU has done lasting damage, and securing better access to our largest trading partner would provide a crucial boost to economic growth.”
Davey called for updated forecasts on a customs union to be published alongside the OBR’s spring statement in March and urged Starmer to begin discussions on the matter at his upcoming EU meeting.
Current OBR projections estimate a 4% decline in UK economic growth over 15 years due to Brexit. However, Labour strategists remain cautious, wary of potential political fallout from Reform UK and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who has accused them of planning to “give away hard-won Brexit freedoms.” EU leaders, for their part, are expected to demand concessions on fishing rights, regulatory standards, and youth mobility in exchange for any significant policy shifts.
Former Conservative Attorney General Dominic Grieve warned that Labour’s approach risks being too timid. “Talk of a reset is meaningless without vision and boldness. The government’s piecemeal sectoral approach is inadequate. Without addressing trade barriers and engaging in serious discussions on a customs union and the single market, Labour’s economic ambitions will remain unfulfilled.”
A Treasury spokesperson maintained that the government is committed to resetting relations with the EU to drive growth, support businesses, and collaborate on security and prosperity across the continent. However, as pressure mounts for a more ambitious strategy, the question remains: will Labour seize the opportunity to reshape Britain’s European future, or will hesitation once again define its approach?
