Title: Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers

During her Tuesday Mais lecture, Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared that "Brexit did deep damage," a statement that underscores a significant evolution in the Labour Party’s stance—a shift that senior ministers have been hinting at for months. Reeves addressed European partners directly, asserting that the government views a closer partnership as beneficial for all of Europe. At the same time, she maintained that the administration is not seeking to reverse the course of Brexit.

This overt acknowledgment of Brexit’s negative impacts appears driven by the government’s determination to address the UK’s stubbornly weak economic performance. To achieve this, ministers believe it is essential to be more ambitious in resetting the United Kingdom’s post-Brexit ties with the European Union.

Labour’s 2024 election manifesto had outlined a modest renegotiation of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement, originally negotiated by Boris Johnson in 2020. The plan aimed to eliminate EU customs checks on food and agricultural exports by harmonizing British regulations with those of the EU. However, the manifesto established firm boundaries: it ruled out rejoining the single market or the customs union, ended freedom of movement, and offered no indication of any intent to rejoin the EU entirely. This cautious position was largely a response to the party’s devastating loss in the 2019 election. Following that defeat, Labour formally accepted the decision to leave and voted in favor of Johnson’s deal.

Since then, however, the party’s rhetoric has hardened. Shortly after last autumn’s Budget, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that Brexit had "significantly hurt our economy" and argued that Britain must continue moving toward a closer EU relationship. While Starmer appeared to uphold the manifesto’s red lines, his comments suggested a growing consensus within the party that reversing economic decline requires a more proactive approach to EU relations.

Some cabinet members have gone even further. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, speaking at a literary festival in October, expressed relief that Brexit could now be discussed openly as a problem, suggesting that the UK’s departure from the EU was hindering the economic growth promised by the government. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, in a podcast, described the economic damage caused by Brexit as "self-evident," citing the economic advantages Turkey has gained from its customs agreement with the EU.

Internal pressure to reconsider policy is also evident. On Wednesday, London Mayor Sadiq Khan urged the UK to rejoin the EU customs union and single market ahead of the next election, with the goal of campaigning on a platform to fully rejoin the EU in that vote.

In contrast, while Reeves reaffirmed on Tuesday that Labour’s manifesto red lines remain intact, her Mais lecture clearly indicated a strategic pivot. She suggested that the government intends to align UK regulations with EU standards in additional areas whenever it serves Britain’s interests. Reeves argued that such alignment is crucial to delivering the economic growth pledged during the 2024 campaign, which has so far remained elusive.

Recent data shows the economy grew by 1.3% in 2025, up from 1.1% in 2024, though this still fell short of official forecasts predicting 1.5% growth.

These developments carry political weight beyond their economic implications. The central question is whether pursuing a closer EU relationship risks alienating Brexit-supporting voters and triggering electoral disaster. Alternatively, has the political landscape shifted enough to make it strategically sound for Labour to adjust its approach to Brexit?

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-03-20 00:01:51 UTC