The former Health Secretary and likely Labour leadership contender wants Britain ‘back in the European Union’
Wes Streeting resigned as Health Secretary on Thursday (Image: Getty Images)
Former Health Secretary and likely Labour leadership contender Wes Streeting is calling for the United Kingdom to rejoin the European Union. His call for a reversal of Brexit will heighten fears that Sir Keir Starmer will be replaced with an even more enthusiastic advocate of Britain re-entering Brussels’s orbit.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, who is expected to stand in the upcoming Makerfield by-election, has already said he wants the UK to rejoin the EU in his lifetime.
At a gathering of the Progress group of Labour supporters, Mr Streeting said: “[Leaving] the European Union was a catastrophic mistake… In 2026, the British people increasingly see that in a dangerous world, we must club together, both to rebuild our economy and trade, and improve our defence against the shared threats from Russian aggression and the retreat of America First. The biggest economic opportunity we have is on our doorstep. We need a new Special Relationship with the EU, because Britain’s future lies with Europe, and one day – one day – back in the European Union.”
Previously, Mr Streeting had said he wanted a “deeper trading relationship” with the EU, which was seen as a hint he favoured joining a customs union with the EU. But now the 43-year-old has made clear he wants Britain to once again be an EU member state.
Last year, Mr Burnham told the New Statesman magazine: “Long term, I’m going to say it, I want to rejoin. I hope in my lifetime I see this country rejoin the European Union.”
Conservative MP Jack Rankin said: “[It] doesn’t really matter which clown is driving the clown car if they’re all racing to Brussels.”
He said contenders will try to “outbid each other for applause at North London dinner parties”.
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg does not expect pro-EU views to win votes in traditional Labour heartlands (Image: Lucy North/PA Wire)
Former Leader of the Commons Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg warned Labour that pro-EU views will not go down well in the party’s traditional heartlands where there was a high Brexit vote.
He said: “If Labour wants to win back the Red Wall it will need to reconsider its EU love-in. Makerfield voted 65% leaves so Andy ‘I want to rejoin the EU’ Burnham will not want to join a Remainer arms race with other potential leadership candidates.”
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said: “Labour are hellbent on throwing democracy out the window and putting their own selfish beliefs before the will of the British people. Britain democratically voted to leave the European Union nearly a decade ago, yet Labour continuously choose to ignore and undermine that decision. This week, Wes Streeting betrayed his own Party leader, and now he wants to betray the country too – he cannot be trusted. Only Reform UK will honour the referendum result and fully deliver the Brexit the British people voted for.”