I’m a believer in an interconnected world, where the United Kingdom builds strong links with its neighbours and across the globe on the basis of mutual interest and cooperation. That means that I’m not a Conservative, as they evidently believe that such links should be purely transactional and, given their sense of entitlement, heavily weighted in our favour. Funnily enough, that doesn’t seem to be working out for them or, more importantly, for the rest of us.
There’s been a good deal of disappointment on this website about the fact that, whilst Liberal Democrats have been vocal about what is wrong with the Government’s approach in addressing the ills of Brexit, the seemingly obvious next step – talking about the advantages of rebuilding some, perhaps all, of the relationship has been very much soft-pedalled.
Does the Party’s private polling suggest that voters have given up on any hope of rejoining the European Union, or perhaps that it isn’t a priority for enough voters yet?
For most, if not all of us, the answer to that question is conjecture, but my increasing sense is that the public are waiting for someone to talk about meaningful actions that would help us address their concerns – the NHS staffing crisis, for example. Some of those steps require us to make deals with the European Union – freedom of movement, mutual recognition, rejoining Horizon and Erasmus – and Liberal Democrats, who understand that sovereignty is something that you have to pool from time to time to gain tangible benefits, should be making the case for them.
The public polling data suggests that there is an audience out there for such a call, and whilst an understanding of what rejoining the EU would mean is probably just as fuzzy for many as what leaving it meant seven years ago, if nobody is making the case for better links and greater cooperation, Conservatives (and Labour for that matter) will be able to successfully argue that rejoining is a dead letter. “Making Brexit work” will continue to be their mantra, even if it makes our nation poorer and more vulnerable in the long term.
So, it’s high time that an internationalist political party started to behave as though it believes in the concept. We were pretty much silent about the advantages of Europe prior to Brexit and look where that got us. Continued silence will simply repeat that long-term mistake.
And that isn’t a plea for a campaign to rejoin now. Until we’re able to make a cogent, detailed argument for what rejoining actually entails, we risk giving the Conservatives and Reform UK the freedom to do what they did during the referendum campaign, i.e. lie to and frighten enough of the public into voting against their own interests. But we can make the case for re-establishing our links, by agreeing closer policy alignments, seeking to rejoin the Single Market and so on. Building a pro-Europe majority will make the long-term goal of renewing our place in the European Union family that much easier but someone has to lead that campaign, and it should be us.
* Mark Valladares is the Monday Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and a member of the Party’s delegation to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).
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24 Comments
Excellent post. Thank you. Much of the problem is ‘cart before horse’ in policy. We should be doing our homework professionally and coming to considered views of what is the long term public interest, and of how we would address the major problems facing the nation, in the light of attitude research. And set out our approach in succinct common parlance. Only then should we look to methods for communicating to the public. If we base everything we say on flawed short-term quantitative polling we will for ever be feathers buffeted by the wind. In public communication itself we should work out what we want to say and let the many communication experts implement ‘how to say it’.
Mark – thanks, and I totally agree. The party already has a clear position on this, in the policy paper Rebuilding Trade and Cooperation with Europe (https://www.libdems.org.uk/conference/papers/spring-2022/europe-policy-paper), approved by conference last March. It sets out the steps that need to be taken to construct a more intelligent relationship with the EU, to the benefit of the economy and individuals – and although this does not have to lead inevitably to rejoin, if the UK is to rejoin one day, it will have to go down that route. What’s needed is the paper’s translation into concise messages and for the leadership to deliver them.
Too early to say “rejoin”
We can and should happily say loudly and often that Brexit is a disaster and its architects (“Reform” and Conservatives) and enablers (Labour’s socialist tenancy) were responsibile for it.
Well said Mark. There are many certainly in the area where I live in the Black Country in the heart of the West Midlands who are heartily frustrated with the current fixation of our national leaders who concentrate what little time we get in the media, banging away at the “Blue Wall” constituencies primarily in London and the South East.
Now I totally see why they would want to target certain areas where we stand the best chance of beating the Tories, but to the voters in the Black Country, it comes across as if the Lib Dems have given up on us.
We all adopt targeting tactics, channelling our efforts first at Postal Voters, then we refine it towards those Postal Voters on the Marked Register and in particular those who have indicated that they either voted LIb Dem or would consider doing so at the next opportunity. What we DON’T do is put that into words into press releases, FOCUS articles, websites and our social media outlets.
Give us a break for heavens sake. It’s tough enough out here in the sticks fighting Tories and Labour in the first past the post voting system environment without having to explain to locals that as Liberal Democrats we do care about them no matter how it might seem in the media.
See this weekend’s post about the new issue of Liberator, where the commentary and first story in Radical Bulletin try to shine some light on what is going on about silence on Europe: https://www.libdemvoice.org/liberator-416-is-out-72549.html
Next year, God willing, I will celebrate my 60th wedding anniversary. For 20 of these years my wife supported me totally as Chair of Richmond, 17 years a councillor and 3 times PPC for Twickenham. I have a family motto: Honour and Truth. She has stopped being a member of the party. I am told by the local party that mentioning Brexit and ‘outright opposition at this stage might be counterproductive.’
Do we have no honour and to say what we believe in? Is it because we are run my opinion pollsters?
I re-read ‘Rebuilding Trade and Cooperation with Europe, Policy Paper 144’ from last Spring, and I am reminded that it is a very well written piece of work and is a model of clarity and logical structure. Grateful for that. It is true as the Paper implies that more work is required before the Party leadership can be bold enough to incorporate its messages into the cascade of Party commnications, nationally and locally. There have been many events since publicatio that have altered the outlook of the EU, not least the Ukraine war. First, the problem that the policy is addressing needs to be even more rigorously stated; for example tarrif and non-tarrif barriers with the EU, plus the problem of trade relations with other countries where EU clout was removed, plus security, R&D, and scale economies more broadly. Second, the general approach of the EU requires not just further research but also understanding of the opportunities (the UK rejoining the CU+SM would be a great feather in the EU’s cap), Third, it is often stated in the UK that the EU will have ‘demands’ if closer UK-EU relationships are pursued (Euro membership path, defence cooperation etc). To what extent is this true ? Fourth, how will the UK address the ‘rule-taker’ problem if we join the CU+SM ? Fifth, the US was a key promoter of UK-EU ‘legal separation’. What leverage will the US deploy if legal re-integration is on the table ?
Although the Brexit movement is withering, it is far from felled. It still clings to the dodgy 2016 vote for sustenance. Although I see the ‘Volonté Générale’ – ‘Will of the People’ nonsense as too easily tyrannous and fundamentally illiberal, I have reluctantly concluded that another referendum (possibly two) is needed to put the lid on Brexit.
We need to campaign for a referendum to authorise opening negotiations towards a closer agreement with the EU and the EEA. It cannot be for ‘join’/’rejoin’ neither EFTA nor the EU; these are not for the UK to decide. It can be for pulling the country out of the Brexit cul-de-sac and for an honestly cooperative and collaborative relationship with Europe. The vote itself would in part indicate how close the UK can work with the EU.
The demographics and polling trends indicate that such a campaign would rally increasing support, whether or not we succeed in mounting the referendum. Without a referendum, however, negotiations towards rapprochement would be blighted and unsatisfactory. In reality, we need the referendum in order to be able to reach an agreement that is beneficial for the UK (but also for the EU).
We need to be looking towards the future and speaking out. There will come a point, or more likely we are past the point where not mentioning Brexit, timidly tagging along behind more robust and more principled voices is counter-productive and a drag on the Party.
I agree that we should be open about our internationalism. When it comes to freedom of movement for example we should not follow what Labour do which is to kow tow to populist sentiment. Instead, just make the case for why the UK needs lawful immigration. At the same time we can promise to be more effective on illegal immigration as there is nothing illiberal about that.
This is a very welcome article Mark. Let’s hope that our leaders use the York Conference as a platform to really promote the Party’s agreed policy on closer ties with Europe.
After 49 years of active Party membership I have never been more depressed and fed up with a Party leadership which is totally silent on one of the most important issues facing our nation – the relationship with our EU neighbours. If Sir Ed cannot find the will to shout about our very clear policy of getting closer to the EU then he should make way for
a leader who will. I am wondering wonder whether it’s time for me to find another political home.
Apparently Northern Ireland is doing much better than the rest of the UK since Brexit and an agreement is possible as most of the Northern Irish people are happy with the Protocol as they are benefitting so much from it. Maybe the way to solve the problem is for the whole of the United Kingdom to be subject to the Protocol so that we can be both in the EU and outside it which would enable both sides to claim they have got what they wanted. Even the Leavers seem to have realised they got it wrong, except for those who are actually benefitting.
nvelope2003 14th Feb ’23 – 2:41pm:
Apparently Northern Ireland is doing much better than the rest of the UK since Brexit…
During the pandemic there was a quarter (Q3 2020) when Northern Ireland grew slightly faster than the rest of the UK, but that was a statistical artefact resulting from lockdowns (see ONS bar chart in citation below). Remainers seized upon this statistical aberration and extrapolated it into yet another enduring EU myth. Needless to say, it’s false. Northern Ireland has had lower growth than the UK average…
‘GDP, UK regions and countries: April to June 2022’ [Release date: 9th. February 2023]:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/bulletins/gdpukregionsandcountries/apriltojune2022
In Quarter 2 2022, compared with the same quarter a year ago, Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales showed positive growth in GDP of 5.0%, 4.0%, 2.1% and 1.9%, respectively.
Of the growth there has been, most is in services and the public sector, neither of which is covered by the protocol (goods only). There has been no private sector growth at all in the last year…
‘NI Composite Economic Index’ [12th. January 2023]:
https://www.nisra.gov.uk/statistics/economic-output-statistics/ni-composite-economic-index
Paul Reynolds 13th Feb ’23 – 4:29pm:
First, the problem that the policy is addressing needs to be even more rigorously stated; for example tarrif and non-tarrif barriers with the EU,…
Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) the UK has 100% tariff and quota free access to all 27 EU markets. There are no tariff barriers. The main non-tariff barriers are the EU’s bureaucratic and protectionist customs procedures. Not much that the UK can do about that other than cajole the EU into modernising. With innovative countries like Kenya and Singapore we’ve been able to agree all digital customs procedures…
‘’Digital trade corridor’ opens between Kenya and UK’ [July 2021]:
https://www.cips.org/supply-management/news/2021/july/digital-trade-corridor-opens-between-kenya-and-uk/
‘UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement: final agreement explainer’ [June 2022]:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-singapore-digital-economy-agreement-explainer/uk-singapore-digital-economy-agreement-final-agreement-explainer
It seems ironic that what many on here are advocating now – was deemed unacceptable in 2019. & ultimately that stance paved the way for the deal we have now .
John (Waller), indeed. You are so right.
The sheer cowardice of the approach to Brexit promoted by so many of our senior figures is only exceeded by its astonishing arrogance and idiocy. The Lib Dems have been right in their assessment of Brexit from Day 1, and if people know anything about us it is our stance on Brexit.
Now the full awfulness of its reality is becoming crystal clear to everyone and attitudes are steadily moving in our direction we are stuck with a leadership, none of whom want to accept they have to change and evolve.
With our party haemorrhaging lifelong members, leaving because of the endless dismay and disillusion with the incompetence of our so called leading lights you would have hoped they would start to notice. I fear no-one in their inner circle has the courage or the wisdom to notice what is happening – membership collapsing (again), money all spent up, conference cancelled or controlled beyond stage management
It is probably our last chance as a party to try to recover to being a party with some size to it (say 25 MPs) rather than just stay in the twilight zone where we are perpetually hoping for a winnable by-election or dreading a couple of unfortunate losses.
I really fear for our survival.
Paul Reynolds 13th Feb ’23 – 4:29pm:
…plus the problem of trade relations with other countries where EU clout was removed,…
“EU clout”? If the EU did have any clout in trade negotiations it certainly didn’t exercise it on our behalf. The EU trade deals are shallow having been negotiated down to the lowest common denominator amongst 27 members. Most are with small countries and states in and around Europe. They may suit German goods exporters, but do little or nothing for services – our great strength – showing how little ‘clout’ the UK had over had over EU trade policy when a member.
The UK is the world’s second-largest exporter of services and they account for half of our exports…
‘Trade Secretary welcomes record year for services exports’ [10th. February 2023]:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/business-secretary-welcomes-record-year-for-services-exports
The UK is now able to negotiate much more ambitious bespoke trade agreements…
‘UK kickstarts work on new trade deal with Switzerland’ [April 2022]:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-kickstarts-work-on-new-trade-deal-with-switzerland
Would the varuous African, or Asian, or American counties be more “internationalist” if they had a common Parliament, a common currency etc and set up their own Free Trading Zone protected by strong external tariff barriers?
This hasn’t been a Liberal Party view of the meaning of the term historically.
The problem with Northern Ireland is that, unlike Scotland, whose King inherited the English Crown in 1603, Ireland was conquered by the English and became a colony where Scots and others from Great Britain were encouraged to settle to strengthen the Protestant ascendancy by expropriating Irish Catholic land and the Protestants live in terror that the Catholics might want it back. The Unionist MP Sammy Wilson has stated more than once that Irish unity would not necessarily follow a majority vote for it in any referendum. They will do anything to prevent a Nationalist from becoming First Minister. It is ironic that in the struggle between the Catholic King James II and the Protestant William of Orange who was King of England, Scotland and Ireland, the Pope supported King William because he was fighting Louis XIV who was too extreme for the Pope and German Protestants supported the Catholic King James II, the former King of England etc. It is time these ancient religious divisions were put to rest but of course they are not really religious but political, financial and colonialist relics of the 17th Century.
I get very fed up of people avoiding the elephant in the room. If the DUP continue to sabotage the Northern Ireland Assembly, then there really is a simple solution. Change the rules to allow the assembly and the executive to function without them. Tell them they are welcome to join or not join, but they cannot be allowed a veto, especially since Northern Ireland voted remain.
@Mick Taylor
How do you change the rules without messing up the Good Friday Agreement? That as I understand it requires the Assembly to form a power-sharing executive, with first and second ministers from each side of the divide. When it was first brought in the leading parties were the UUP and the SDLP – it”s very different now. The leading unionist party now is the one which didn’t support the GFA.
Another Assembly election? The UUP was so far behind the DUP that, short of a political earthquake, it seems highly unlikely it could overtake the DUP.
“Change the rules to allow the assembly and the executive to function without them. Tell them they are welcome to join or not join, but they cannot be allowed a veto,”
Sounds like a good way of restarting the Troubles to me Mr Taylor.
“Sounds like a good way of restarting the Troubles… ”
Yes. Anyone who thinks they have a simple answer to the Irish question hasn’t understood it properly in the first place.
The GFA isn’t fixed and does need to be updated to accommodate any potential settlement with the EU on the Ireland/UK border. However, any changes need to be agreed by both sides. That’s part of the GFA itself. Everyone does need to recognise that unless they are advocating that it should be scrapped.
The ERG will not accept any Brexit deal that does not have the support of the DUP. The DUP will not accept a Sinn Fein first minister regardless of the outcome of voting. Hence, the DUP will scupper any Brexit deal at least until the May council elections in NI and perhaps thereafter too.