STORY
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has criticised Labour figures who have suggested that Britain should rebuild its relationship with the European Union, arguing that the debate showed the party lacked a clear plan for the country. Her comments came after Wes Streeting called for the UK eventually to rejoin the EU and Andy Burnham indicated support for a closer European relationship.
Badenoch said that policies such as removing VAT or green levies from energy bills would be harder to pursue inside the EU, presenting the issue as a question of domestic policy freedom. Her intervention sought to draw a contrast between the Conservative Party’s approach to Brexit and Labour’s internal dispute about future relations with Brussels.
The comments show that Europe is again becoming a live dividing line in national politics. Although the Government has not adopted a policy of rejoining the EU, senior Labour figures’ remarks have allowed opposition parties to argue that the party is being pulled back into the Brexit debate.