Currently, 16, 427 people have signed a recent petition calling on the UK Government to hold a referendum on re-joining the European. The Cabinet Office yesterday issued a response and as one of the signatories, I’m disappointed, albeit not surprised.
The full text is copied below but essentially it’s the usual warm words about a focus on “strategic alliance with the EU” and strengthening “our relationship with our European friends” to “to address wider global challenges” and “to remove barriers to trade.”
While clearly this is a better place to be than we were under the previous Government, the statement contains a reminder that the Government was elected with a manifesto pledge not to rejoin the EU and a rather limiting commitment that “we will not return to freedom of movement, the Customs Union or the Single Market.”
Given the erratic behaviour of the Trump regime and clear polling evidence that Britons favour a European alliance over the ever less special looking US relationship, was it overly optimistic of me to have hoped that the Government’s statement might have been backed off such a definitive and limiting position?
Full text from the Cabinet Office below:
“The Government has responded to the petition you signed – “Hold a referendum on re-joining the European Union”.
Government responded:
The Government was elected on a manifesto that made clear the UK would not rejoin the EU. We are focused on a strategic alliance with the EU to make the UK safer, more secure and more prosperous.
Since taking office, this Government has been working to strengthen the relationship with our European friends. A closer, more cooperative relationship with the EU is in the UK’s national interest. It will grow the economy, boost living standards, protect our borders and keep the UK safe.
This is about turning the page – reinvigorating alliances and forging new partnerships with our European friends, rather than reopening the divisions of the past. A stronger UK-EU relationship means a stronger Europe.
The Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement underpin relations between the EU and the UK. We are committed to the full and faithful implementation of these agreements, however we believe we can go further to strengthen that relationship.
In particular, we want to work closely with the EU to address wider global challenges including economic headwinds, geopolitical competition, irregular migration, climate change, energy prices, and of course the security of our citizens, which pose fundamental challenges to the shared values of the UK and EU and provide the strategic driver for stronger cooperation.
The manifesto upon which this Government was elected set out that we would seek to remove barriers to trade with the EU. Our markets are highly interconnected, so close cooperation can support growth and deliver investment. The Minister for European Union Relations is taking forward discussions on these areas with his counterpart Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič.
The UK will welcome EU leaders to the UK for the first UK-EU Leaders’ Summit on 19 May. This will provide an opportunity to make further progress on areas which will deliver tangible benefits for the people of the UK.”
There will be issues which are difficult to resolve, as well as areas on which we will stand firm. We have been clear we are not going back to the arguments of the past; we will not return to freedom of movement, the Customs Union or the Single Market. Although we voted to leave the EU, our role as key allies and trading partners remains, and this Government is ambitious, has clear priorities and wants to move forward.
Phil Harris
derby4europe 