Starmer must address the economic ‘disaster’ of Brexit, warns Labor Party | Britain’s exit from the European Union

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The former European Labor Minister for Europe has warned that Keir Starmer must urgently develop a series of practical policies to tackle the economic “disaster” of Brexit and prevent it from driving Scotland towards independence.

Backed by many of his other Labor peers, Peter Hain, also a former Northern Ireland minister, says crises caused by climate change, the Ukraine war, lack of economic growth and soaring energy prices can only be addressed through close cooperation with the EU. . Neighbors than the Brexit arrangements allow.

Writing in today’s Observer, Lord Hain calls Brexit a “taboo topic” because the Conservatives “won’t admit” the massive damage it has done to the economy, and because Labor remains “understandably reluctant to reignite the old Brexit fires”.

But Henn argues that – as governor of the Bank of England, the Office for Budget Responsibility and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development all now agree – withdrawal from the European Union is the main reason why the UK is the only G7 country whose economy is still going. Less than it was before the pandemic, and the Labor Party, as the potential party in government, has the duty to prepare a detailed plan to limit the damage of Brexit.

Across a range of policies, Henn says, Brexit has failed and that the effects – often those that are the opposite of what Brexiteers promised – will become more pronounced, with potentially fatal implications for England’s union with Scotland and Wales. and Northern Ireland.

“Brexit, which is supposed to control immigration, in fact created a chronic labor shortage and a dramatic jump in net immigration in the year ending June 2022, to a record 504,000 people – which is ironic given the Racism towards much of the Brexit campaign.

“As the failures of Brexit become more visible, support for an independent Scotland seems to be growing. Unless the Labor Party does something about it, we could get independence driven at least in part by Brexit, something Nicola Sturgeon is constantly proving. her case.”

Among the measures Hain proposes, as well as moves to help British businesses restore exports with the EU, is a negotiated removal of post-Brexit travel restrictions including a 90-day limit on UK nationals visiting the EU in any 180 days. It also proposes action to resolve the crisis over the Northern Ireland Protocol, and cooperation on energy policy and climate change.

He writes: “The time has come for us all to confront the Brexit fantasy of a ‘sovereign global Britain’. The writing is on the wall. Our destiny lies, if not certainly within, with Europe – and Labor needs practical policies to make it happen.”

Former Labor Home Secretary David Blunkett endorsed Hain’s intervention and said the economic cost of Brexit was one of the factors preventing it from offering more generous pay rises to public sector workers – the cause of the current strikes.

Lord Plunkett said: “Peter Hain is absolutely right in highlighting the massive economic hit that could be identified as a direct consequence of Brexit. The 15% trade drop identified by the Office for Budget Responsibility illustrates, graphically, the loss of resources that could be available to counteract The challenge of a sharp decline in income and thus the ability of general employers to offer more generous wage increases and reduce the amount of industrial labor pressure.

Former TUC general secretary John Monks has suggested that Labor should support moves to solve the UK’s labor shortage. One problem can be addressed immediately: the acute shortage of workers in some sectors, post-Brexit, particularly hospitality and agriculture. This can be done by opening up the visa system from mere skilled workers to semi-essential and unskilled workers.”

Wary of alienating Brexiteers, Starmer, a high-profile remainder before he became Labor leader, has been going out of his way to stress that he will not support any return to the EU single market or customs union, let alone consider a return to full membership in the EU, If he becomes prime minister.

He also recently ruled out reinstating free movement of people between Britain and the EU, saying it would be a “red line” for Labor if it came to power – despite having supported the policy three years ago.

With evidence mounting of the negative effects of Brexit, many remaining workers now believe it is time to support closer ties with the European Union.

Starmer also ruled out a “Swiss-style” deal with the EU, which would allow access to the single market but require more generous immigration rules, after reports that the government was considering such an arrangement prompted No. 10’s vehement denials.

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