13-05-2025
Politics latest: Senior Labour figures distance themselves from PM's speech
Greens call for UK to begin talks on rejoining EU ahead of summit
The Green Party says the government should begin negotiations with EU diplomats about rejoining the bloc.
Officials will be meeting in London for the UK-EU summit on Monday, where the possibility of a trade deal will be high up the agenda.
But the Greens have bigger aspirations. They tabled an amendment today calling on the government to take practical sets to rejoin the EU, some nine years after the country voted to leave.
Carla Denyer told the Commons: "The cost of leaving the EU amounting to £1m an hour in 2022 according to ONS data.
"It makes total economic sense for the UK and for the people within it to use next week's summit to start discussions with the EU on what the process of re-joining might be."
The amendment also says the government should negotiate re-entry to the customs union, the Erasmus programme, and resume free movement.
Package to benefit hard-working people coming soon
The Starmer administration has called for a "reset" with the EU, but it is fairly safe to say the Greens' suggestions will fall on deaf ears.
The PM did have a chat on the phone to his Irish counterpart today, though, where the pair mentioned the upcoming summit.
We're told they agreed to try to settle "an ambitious package" that would "benefit hard-working people and businesses across Europe".
The Liberal Democrats have also said the UK should also move closer to Europe - with Sir Ed Davey calling for the creation of a "bespoke" customs union with the EU.
Tories: 'We will tear up any backroom deal that betrays Brexit'
Unsurprisingly, the Conservatives have ruled out all of these options.
Kemi Badenoch asked: "What's [Starmer] about to give away?
"Look at Chagos, US tariffs and the India deal. Now Starmer's EU 'reset' risks more sellouts."
She has also set out her "five tests", which include no return of free movement, no loss of UK fishing rights and no new cash to the EU.
"If Labour surrenders powers to Brussels, a future Conservative government will take them back", she warned.
Badenoch might need to give a bit more thought about how she's going to get back into office first, though…
