Brexit: Britain is not going to rejoin EU or arrange customs union, Starmer’s high negotiator warns | EUROtoday

The minister tasked with resetting the UK’s relationship with Brussels has dominated out a customs union with the bloc – and mentioned he doesn’t imagine Britain will ever return to the EU.

Ahead of a speech in Brussels on Monday, European affairs minister Nick Thomas-Symonds informed The Independent that “there is no appetite” to return to the debates of the previous on EU membership.

While he insists the federal government needs to develop even nearer ties with the European Union, notably because the world turns into a extra harmful place, Mr Thomas-Symonds dominated out any form of deal which might result in a type of the UK and EU coming into a customs union.

He mentioned that even a bespoke model, just like the agreements the bloc has with nations like Turkey and Norway, was off the playing cards.

In December, 13 Labour MPs rebelled and backed a Lib Dem invoice to rejoin the customs union which was handed within the Commons.

Mr Thomas-Symonds likened the concept of promising a customs union to the notorious Vote Leave bus which carried a message about additional funding for the NHS.

He mentioned: “We won’t have a customs union. We will never go back to the days of making undeliverable promises on the side of red buses.”

His feedback come forward of a significant speech on Brexit by chancellor Rachel Reeves on Tuesday the place she will probably be “making the positive case” for nearer alignment between Britain and the EU.

He mentioned: “We have to be clear that alignment is not a dirty word.”

The cupboard workplace confirmed that he hopes to have a brand new deal in place on meals, drink and youth motion in time for the tenth anniversary of the EU referendum on 23 June.

But requested if the UK might return into the EU sooner or later, he informed The Independent: “I don’t see that, and I don’t see us returning to the debates of the past.

“What we’ve always been about in this is looking forward. I get a sense, because I’m talking to people up and down the country on a weekly basis, that there is support for the closer relationship that we have already built and are building.

“And I think there is no appetite to reopen the debate.”

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For Labour colleagues and others who need a lot nearer ties with the bloc, the feedback will come as a disappointment.

Among the senior figures who’ve spoken in favour of a customs union with the EU are deputy prime minister David Lammy, who mentioned in December that nations in such unions see a lift to their economies.

Mr Lammy mentioned it was “self-evident” that Brexit had been economically damaging, and highlighted that Turkey had seen progress because of its personal union with the bloc.

Weeks later well being secretary Wes Streeting additionally referred to as for a deeper commerce ties between Britain and the EU, in feedback that appeared to counsel he can be open to rejoining the customs union with the bloc.

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But Mr Thomas-Symonds insisted that the UK/ EU reset to date is “already a great deal” and “guided by the British national interest” price £9bn to the economic system, which he warns can be put in danger by Nigel Farage’s Reform or Kemi Badenoch’s Tories in the event that they received energy and went forward with plans to tear up the agreements.

The EU is negotiating for heavy penalty clauses if a future UK authorities ought to attempt to again out of the reset offers being negotiated in a bid to tie them in.

But he acknowledged there are challenges.

One of the main areas he’s speaking about is making certain the UK is included within the EU’s “made in Europe” preparations which might hit automobile makers reminiscent of Nissan within the north east of England specifically.

But he mentioned that the UK authorities is “working every day, every week” to make sure that it doesn’t lock British producers out.

“The UK and the EU are facing very similar challenges going forward. We on both sides of the channel are looking to generate growth that is central to this government’s mission. Erecting trade barriers between us is just going to create mutual damage. That’s not in either side’s interest.”