Hamish Falconer, the new cabinet minister leading the EU reset talks under Andy Burnham's government, says the UK will pursue closer ties with Europe with renewed pace, while keeping to Labour's existing red lines.
Key facts
- Hamish Falconer is the new cabinet minister in charge of the EU reset talks.
- He says there is 'room to be ambitious' within Labour's red lines on Europe.
- Labour's red lines exclude reopening discussions on the single market and customs union.
- Falconer said he wants a 'sense of renewed pace' in post-Brexit talks.
- The comments come under Andy Burnham's government, according to the Guardian.
The UK will move faster and be more ambitious in seeking closer ties with Europe under Andy Burnham’s government, according to the new chief post-Brexit negotiator, in comments reported exclusively by the Guardian.
Hamish Falconer, the new cabinet minister in charge of the EU reset talks, said there was ‘room to be ambitious’ within Labour’s red lines on Europe. He indicated the government wants to inject a ‘sense of renewed pace’ into post-Brexit negotiations.
Falconer said he would look at the ‘art of the possible’ as the government pursues what it describes as a deeper relationship with the European Union, according to the Guardian’s report.
However, that ambition is bounded by Labour’s stated red lines. According to the Guardian, those red lines exclude reopening discussions on the single market and the customs union, setting clear limits on how far any renewed talks can go.
The reported approach signals an intention to accelerate engagement with Brussels while maintaining the constraints Labour has previously set out on the scope of the relationship.
Why it matters
The direction of UK-EU relations affects trade, business and everyday life for people on both sides of the Channel. A stated push for a 'deeper relationship' within existing red lines signals how far a Burnham government may go in reshaping post-Brexit ties without reopening the most contentious debates.
Frequently asked questions
Who is leading the EU reset talks?
Hamish Falconer, the new cabinet minister in charge of the EU reset talks, according to the Guardian.
What are Labour's red lines on Europe?
According to the Guardian, Labour's red lines exclude reopening discussions on the single market and the customs union.
What does the government want from the talks?
Falconer said he wants a 'sense of renewed pace' and there was 'room to be ambitious' within the red lines, looking at the 'art of the possible,' as reported by the Guardian.