Rachel Reeves is set to beat the drum for even closer ties to Brussels in her Mais lecture this afternoon. Here is what she’ll say, for those who can’t bear to listen:
“In this changing world, Britain is not powerless. We can shape our own future. Our method is stability, investment and reform — through an active and strategic state. Today, I am making three big choices on the greatest growth opportunities for Britain in the decade to come: growth in every part of Britain, AI and innovation, and a deeper relationship with the EU.”
The government is planning a sector-by-sector audit to align UK regulations with the EU, starting with food standards, chemicals, and aerospace. There’s also a ‘youth mobility deal’ and a push to have British components counted as European under new EU content rules. Negotiations (terms of surrender) are expected to begin at a summit this summer. Any hope of achieving real growth has gone down the plumbing, so they are pulling the emergency EU lever…
In Henry Mance’s piece today for the FT, lunching with Nigel Farage:
“Splendido!” Farage says, when the drinks arrive; I suppose it’s a step to European reconciliation. We clink glasses, and he lights the first of two back-to-back Benson & Hedges. A few minutes later, we’re back downstairs. “Are you drinking? Good.” He orders a glass of Sauvignon blanc for each of us — not a bottle, “because it’s Lent” — followed by a bottle of claret, to have with our meal. They say Farage drinks less than he used to. They say a lot of things.”