UPDATE: Kemi Badenoch has launched a fierce attack on the Labour Party, accusing it of reopening old Brexit wounds to strengthen its core support. This urgent development comes as senior ministers within Labour advocate for a closer trading relationship with the EU, raising concerns among Conservative leaders about the implications for the UK’s economy.
In her latest remarks, Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, emphasized that calls for rejoining the European customs union reveal a lack of vision from the government. She stated, “The only people advocating for such a policy…do not understand what a customs union actually is.” This statement was made amid a backdrop of increasing pressure from Labour’s Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, who recently suggested that a deeper trading relationship with the EU could bolster the economy.
Badenoch warned that a return to the customs union would jeopardize vital trade agreements established post-Brexit, including those with the United States and India. She pointed out that such moves would not only limit the UK’s negotiating power but could also invite further concessions from Brussels.
These comments come as Labour’s Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, has been criticized for not ruling out the possibility of reversing Brexit altogether. The situation has intensified the political debate in the UK, particularly as the Trade Union Congress (TUC) General Secretary, Paul Nowak, has urged Labour leader Keir Starmer to reconsider his stance against a customs union.
Badenoch expressed her concerns in a recent column for the Daily Mail, stating, “Now that the government is weak and has no plan or new ideas, it has reopened old Brexit wounds in the vain hope that doing so will make it more popular. It won’t.” She warned that such regression would adversely affect British businesses and farmers, making the country poorer.
As part of her New Year’s message, Badenoch urged citizens not to lose hope in the face of rising taxes and unemployment under Labour’s governance in 2025. “Don’t let the politics of grievance tell you that we’re destined to stay the same,” she declared, encouraging voters to demand the changes they wish to see in the upcoming 2026 elections.
In related developments, former Conservative minister Lord Gove reflected on the past decade since the Brexit referendum, admitting regret over the fallout that disrupted Boris Johnson’s leadership campaign. He revealed that the Vote Leave campaign had a more strategic approach that was never implemented due to their internal conflicts.
As the political landscape continues to shift, the tension surrounding Brexit and its implications for the UK’s future remains palpable. Observers are urged to stay tuned for further updates as these developments unfold.
