During a BBC Question Time discussion, Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson criticised Labour’s latest Budget for ignoring what she described as the “big elephant in the room”: Brexit.
Addressing Growth Concerns
Wilson, the Lib Dem education spokesperson, spoke about whether Labour’s new financial plans would truly promote economic growth, which the party says is its main goal. She pointed out the lack of funding for social care and added, “The other big elephant in the room, of course, is Brexit.
“This government, like the previous one, won’t address our broken relationship with Europe. If we want to achieve real growth, we need to repair that relationship. But Keir Starmer, even looking ahead, has ruled out re-joining the single market. We know that decision has already reduced growth by 4%.”
Limited EU Engagement
The prime minister has been clear that improving ties with the EU will not mean reversing Brexit. Wilson shared an example from her own constituency, where one business lost 25% of its trade “overnight due to Brexit red tape.” She added, “They have worked to recover, but how much more could they have grown without that initial setback?”
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey echoed these concerns during a press gallery lunch, saying, “We can’t wait to revive our economy; we need urgent action to rebuild our relationship with Europe.”
Recent Developments
Last month, Keir Starmer and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen agreed to hold regular UK-EU summits to discuss the future of relations. While Starmer rejected Brussels’ proposal for a youth mobility scheme, he emphasised that “resetting” the relationship was important.
He stated on October 2, “I’ve made our stance clear, especially that free movement is a red line. Today’s focus was on how we conduct these discussions, prioritising what we can achieve over what we can’t, and focusing on results rather than ongoing commentary.”
The Home Office is also setting up a new “Europe Hub” aimed at enhancing border security.
You may also like: Prince William’s rental properties: reports of damp, mould, and high heating costs
