Labour has been determined to negotiate a new partnership with the EU. The benefits it could unlock are clear – reducing barriers to trade, driving economic growth and keeping us safe in an increasingly dangerous world. It is the sensible, pragmatic thing to do. We want to put more money in the pockets of working people and provide Britain with long-term stability and security; we won’t be defined by debates and arguments of the past.
We are equally confident in what the UK can offer in return. It is a politically stable country, and the government has a huge mandate, with more than four years left to deliver our policies. This stability has already inspired the confidence of businessesacross the world, unlocking tens of billions of pounds of long-term investment. This month, Universal announced a multi-billion-pound investment for anew theme park, expected to create 28,000 jobs. We have shown that Britain is back on the world stage, and that it has a lot to offer.
The events of recent weeks have seen the UK step up alongside its European partners and play a leading role in the global response to a series of historic events. Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine has required a momentousresponse from Europe. It has seen European nations come together in defence of our continent, going further than ever on defence spending to keep Ukraine in the fight for as long as it takes. I am proud that the UK has contributed £15bn in support of Ukrainian sovereignty.
Labour is rising to meet the challenges in this new era of global instability. It has pumped money into defence, and its first budget restored economic stability.The government needs to work with Britain’s allies on solutions that will minimise the impact of these global shocks. Today, Keir Starmer ishosting Ursula von der Leyenat Downing Street. They will be discussing how countries can work together to deliver energy security, as well as the progress made strengthening the UK-EU relationship since the election.
Their meeting is a clear example of global leaders working together on issues that matter to people – such asUkraine, energy security and the global economy. It will also be an opportunity to take stock of the progress made in our negotiations for a better deal with the EU, and make sure teams are meeting our aspirations – to grow the economy, boost living standards and keep the UK safe –when we kicked off this work last October.
Pursuing a new partnership with the EU is about meeting the needs of our times. This is not about ideology or returning to the divisions of the past, but about ruthless pragmatism and what works in the national interest. For me, that means working with our allies in the EU to make people across the continent safer, more secure and more prosperous. The EU is our largest trading partner and this government is determined to work to reduce barriers to trade across the economy to help drive growth. Just last week, for example, we saw major retailers such as Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Lidl and Ocadosupporting the government’s aimto negotiate an agreement on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) with the EU, to reduce paperwork and checks, making it easier to do business.
When it comes to security, Nato is the cornerstone of our defence. Now is the time for us to unite across our continent in order to guarantee the best outcome for Ukraine, protect European security and secure our collective future. In the UK we are stepping up, and I know European countries are doing the same. This year we expect the UK to provide £4.5bn in support to Ukraine, more than in any previous year. But there is more the UK and EU can do together to rise to this moment.
We are also determined to keep our streets safe. As part of our plan to do this, we have already increased the UK’s presence at Europol to tackle cross-border crime, such as the scourges of human trafficking and drug smuggling.I want us to go further to work with our partners across the continent to smash criminal gangs operating across Europe and smuggling contraband into the UK.
All of this will be framed by the very clear red lines we set out at the election. We won’t return to the arguments of the past: there will be no return to the single market, the customs union or freedom of movement. We will only agree an EU deal that meets the needs of the British people and respects the 2016 referendum result. By doing this we will seize the opportunities in front of us to deliver a better future.
Nick Thomas-Symonds is paymaster general, minister for the Cabinet Office and minister for the constitution and EU relations