Reeves says UK's future lies in the EU and backs Burnham's approach
Former UK chancellor Rachel Reeves says Britain's future should be in the European Union, arguing Brexit has left the country poorer, weaker and less secure. She welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham's leadership on relations with the bloc.
Rachel Reeves, a Labour politician and the UK's former chancellor of the exchequer, has said Britain's future should be inside the European Union (EU), arguing that Brexit, the country's departure from the bloc, has made it "poorer, weaker and less secure". She made the case in the Sunday Times on 1 November, after recent remarks by Prime Minister Andy Burnham prompted questions about whether the UK could rejoin the EU or adopt its freedom of movement rules.
Burnham sacked Reeves as chancellor when he took office. She now writes that she welcomes his leadership, says she is proud of progress already made in strengthening ties with the EU, and notes that a debate on the future relationship is needed. She added that no one in the Treasury ever doubted where her instincts lay.
A call to prove the benefits
Reeves said she believes Britain's future lies in the EU, but stressed that supporters of re-entry must make the argument, show tangible benefits and get the next steps right.
Burnham's position
Burnham wants to lock in agreements on food and drink, emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme at a summit with the EU next month. He has told ministers that the period after that would be for exploring options for the long-term relationship. This week he warned individual ministers it would not be appropriate to advocate specific options or comment on the likely outcome of any process to renegotiate the relationship. In a letter to his cabinet, he said any fundamental change to post-Brexit arrangements would be for the public to decide and be left to the next parliament.
Hopes for the summit
Reeves said she hopes the summit will confirm the youth mobility scheme and bring progress towards joining the Security Action for Europe (Safe) scheme. Announced in March, Safe is part of an EU-wide effort to rearm following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. A defence pact agreed with the EU in May opened the way for UK-based defence companies to take part in projects funded by the scheme.
