Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy will address business leaders at a conference on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters/Hannah Mackay
Opponents Labor's plans to forge closer ties with the EU are “living in a fantasy”, the shadow foreign minister said on Tuesday.
David Lammy will forcibly restart his party's talks with Brussels on new trade and security terms in a speech at a conference hosted by Best for Britain, a pressure group that advocated a second referendum.
During his speech to business leaders in Birmingham, he will present proposals to prioritize “economic diplomacy” in negotiations with other countries. Senior Tories accused Labor of having a “plan to suck up to Brussels” and expressed misgivings. the party wants the UK back in the EU.
Mr. Lammy, a staunch supporter of the remnant, will say building closer ties with Europe is central to the party's overall mission to spur economic growth.
>”Last week I was criticized by the Tory Press Office for saying that improving our relationship with the EU will be a priority for the next Labor government,” he says.
“I will repeat this without hesitation. British reunification must begin with reunification with our European neighbours. Because the EU is our biggest trading partner and our allies as we face war on our continent.
“If you don’t think the UK’s relationship with Europe is fundamental to our future, you are living in a fantasy . .”
Lee Anderson, Tory vice chairman, accused Labor of sucking up to Brussels. Photo: David Rose for The Telegraph. they can be trusted to protect Brexit.”
“It's typical of Labor to double down on their plans to make EU reunification their top priority at a pro-Brussels party hosted by ardent protesters,” he said.< /p>
from the Labor Party should walk the doorsteps of Ashfield to see if the real people agree with their plan to suck up to Brussels.”
David Jones, former Brexit minister, said there were suspicions that Labor wanted to push the UK towards return to the EU through the back door.
Asked why a new deal was needed, he added: “After all, we have free trade.” agreement, and almost all EU member states, such as the UK, are members of NATO.”
Sir Keir Starmer said he would support exporters by negotiating a veterinary agreement with the EU that would reduce food border controls.
The Labor leader promised to strike a deal similar to the one in New Zealand. has when both sides voluntarily agree that each other's standards are equivalent.
Brussels has twice rejected Tory proposals for such a pact, most recently during Northern Ireland border negotiations last autumn.
Sir Keir Starmer said he wants to make a new agreement with Brussels to enhance security cooperation. Photo: Evan Butman/Anadolu. Agency via Getty Images
Instead, it wants to tie the UK to a Swiss-style deal that would see Westminster copy and paste EU rules on food production.
Sir Keir also said he would cut red tape for service firms through a deal to reciprocate recognition of vocational qualifications.
Such an agreement would make it easier for companies to send workers back and forth across the English Channel without visa requirements.
However, the EU has similarly dismissed UK initiatives in the past, arguing that they must be linked to a wider decline in freedom of movement.
The Labor leader has repeatedly ruled out the possibility of rejoining the single market or customs union, saying the UK's future lies with outside the bloc.
Sir Keir also specifically said he wants to make a new pact with Brussels to step up security cooperation, such as cybercrime.
Labor's plan to improve diplomatic relations
In his speech, Mr Lammy will also announce plans to conduct a “strategic review” of British embassies to give priority to embassies in emerging markets.
The aim of the review will be to “deepen our diplomatic relations with countries of importance for the supply chains and industrial economies of the future,” he says.
Labor suggested that the exercise would send more diplomats to economically prosperous countries such as India.
“Next The Labor government will make our network of world-class diplomats a priority: launch a new economic diplomacy for the modern age, says Mr. Lammy.
Help create the conditions for growth. Navigation in this new geopolitical and geo-economic context. Promoting energy transition.
“Building partnerships and local capacity. Seize the opportunity for the UK to achieve the highest sustainable growth in the G7.”
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