Title: Sir John Curtice: Labour’s Brexit Strategy Pivots From Leavers to Remainers

In her Mais lecture on Tuesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered a stark assessment of the post-Brexit landscape, declaring, “Brexit did deep damage.” This statement underscores a significant evolution within the Labour Party, a shift that ministers have been hinting at for some time. While Reeves assured European partners that the new administration seeks a deeper relationship beneficial to all of Europe, she simultaneously clarified that the government has no intention of “turning back the clock” on Brexit.

This open discussion regarding the perceived negative impacts of Brexit reflects a broader strategic realization: as the government strives to reverse the UK’s persistent economic stagnation, it must adopt a more ambitious approach to “resetting” the nation’s post-Brexit ties with the EU.

Labour’s 2024 election manifesto had proposed limited renegotiations of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement, originally negotiated by Boris Johnson in 2020. Specifically, the party aimed to eliminate EU customs checks on food and agricultural exports by harmonizing British regulations with those of the EU. However, the manifesto maintained strict boundaries, ruling out a return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement. There was no mention, however slight, of rejoining the EU itself. This cautious stance was a direct consequence of the party’s crushing defeat in the 2019 election; in the aftermath, Labour accepted the result of leaving the EU and voted in favor of Johnson’s deal.

Nevertheless, the party’s rhetoric has been evolving. Shortly after last autumn’s Budget, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer asserted that Brexit had “significantly hurt our economy” and emphasized the necessity of moving toward a closer relationship with the EU. While the manifesto’s red lines appeared to remain, his comments suggested an internal conclusion that a more aggressive reset was essential to revive Britain’s struggling economy.

Some ministers have gone even further in their critiques. During an October literary festival, Health Secretary Wes Streeting remarked, “I'm glad that Brexit is a problem whose name we now dare speak,” implying that the UK’s status outside the EU hinders the economic growth promised by the government. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy similarly described the economic harm caused by Brexit as “self-evident” in a podcast, pointing to the economic advantages Turkey has gained through its customs agreement with the EU.

Pressure within Labour to reconsider its Brexit policy is also evident externally. On Wednesday, London Mayor Sadiq Khan advocated for the UK to rejoin the EU customs union and single market before the next general election, with a pledge to campaign for full EU membership at that ballot.

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

The economic data reflects this struggle: the economy expanded by 1.3% in 2025, an improvement over the 1.1% growth recorded in 2024, yet still falling short of official forecasts of 1.5%.

These developments carry political weight beyond mere economics. The pursuit of a closer EU tie risks alienating Brexit-supporting voters, potentially leading to electoral disaster. Alternatively, the political landscape may have shifted so fundamentally that it now makes strategic sense for Labour to alter its stance on Brexit.

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