The new Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations minister, Hamish Falconer, has suggested that rejoining the EU could be on the next Labour manifesto. That’s what they’re von der Sayin’…
Falconer said of Starmer’s ‘reset’ efforts that he wants “to consolidate some of that work, but we also need to see how we can go further.” More rule-taking…
Asked on Sky News about whether rejoin could be on the next manifesto, he said:
“Well, look, the questions for the next manifesto are not yet sorted, but I think it’s been absolutely clear from what the prime minister has said, and I share his views on this. Look, we had this vote 10 years ago. It was the will of the country. It was the will of my own constituency as well. We’re not backsliding from that. The world has changed since 2016. We need to make sure that our relationship with Europe changes, too. Europe and the UK both face real challenges.”
Pushed on the matter, he added: “We’re not talking about rejoin today. What we do in our next manifesto will obviously be a question for the Labour Party.” Lathering up…
Tom Baldwin, author of Starmer’s hagiography, spoke to Times Radio:
Tom Baldwin: “I think he’d like to do something. He’s very dutiful and driven by service. That’s why he came into politics. I think that’s characterised his time as prime minister. He hasn’t always sought popularity or been good at being popular. But I think he has some of the necessary qualities that we actually do want in a prime minister. That resilience, that relentlessness, that ability to carry the weight and the job really does weigh very heavily on people and he carries that weight very, very well.”
Jo Coburn: “NATO Secretary-General?”
Tom Baldwin: “I think that’s something that he would be interested in. I think it probably requires Andy Burnham’s government to support him in that and these are some of the questions which Andy Burnham has to resolve quite quickly.”