A row erupted on BBC Question Time after a minister boasted about Labour searching for nearer ties with the EU. Labour politician Douglas Alexander mentioned the Government was trying to transfer nearer to Brussels because the present debated whether or not Sir Keir Starmer ought to “cosy up” to the US or China.
But panellist Konstantin Kisin challenged the Scottish Secretary, insisting the EU is in “terminal decline” economically. The fiery second got here after an viewers member requested: “Is there not an argument perhaps that rather than cosying up with one power in particular or another that we could look to strengthen ties with the superpower on the continent, the European Union?”
Mr Alexander mentioned: “That’s exactly what we’re doing, that’s why we had the UK-EU summit last year.
“It’s why in increased training we have rejoined the Erasmus Plus scheme to permit British and European college students to have the ability to stay, work and research of their respective nations.
“It’s also why we had to repair the damage. It’s just a statement of fact that under Boris Johnson and our predecessors, they trashed our relationship with Europe.
“So there’s been an enormous quantity of cautious, diligent, diplomatic work finished to rebuild our relationship with Europe.
“We’re going to have annual summits every year with the EU because you’re right, it’s really important we trade with China, but geography still matters in trade, and actually the closest and largest trading bloc is not the US with 18% of the trade but the EU with more than 38% of our trade.”
At that time, Mr Kisin mentioned: “Yes, except Europe is declining. I’m not anti-Europe, I think we should have a positive relationship with Europe.”
The Labour politician then mentioned: “Do you accept geography matters in terms of trade?”
The commentator replied: “Of course geography matters, what I’m saying is that market is declining.”
Mr Alexander mentioned: “So our nearest and largest power economically is the EU, that might be ideologically inconvenient but it’s a fact of geography.”
Mr Kisin hit again: “Yes and in terminal decline. I voted Remain at the referendum stop arguing about ideology.
“It’s a matter of truth, Europe is declining as a market. The US is probably the most highly effective nation on the earth, we’ve got to be allied with them.
“It doesn’t mean we have to be nasty to the Europeans although I wouldn’t mind if they didn’t send us so many boats with illegal immigrants.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2164441/question-time-labour-eu-Konstantin-Kisin