David Lammy reveals the EU would be Labour’s ‘number one priority’ in foreign policy if elected
- Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy says EU would be Labour priority
- Earlier this year he called for ‘Britain Reconnected’ to be a leader in Europe
Labour came under fire last night after frontbencher David Lammy admitted the European Union would be the party’s ‘number one priority’ for foreign policy.
In remarks seized upon by the Conservatives, the shadow foreign secretary said there was ‘much that we can do in partnership’ with the EU.
Earlier this year Mr Lammy advocated for a ‘Britain Reconnected’ that would be ‘outside of the EU but a leader in Europe once again’.
But he has now gone further by claiming that the EU would be Labour’s ‘number one priority’ for rebuilding Britain’s reputation as a world leader post-Brexit.
‘We’ve been clear that we are not entering back into the single market, but clearly, there’s much that we can do in partnership with the European Union,’ he told the PoliticsHome website.
David Lammy last night revealed the European Union would be Labour’s ‘number one priority’ in foreign policy (pictured in January)
Mr Lammy said his mission was to ‘reconnect us with the global community’ because ‘Britain’s reputation is on the floor’.
‘When I travel around the world to many different countries, people say to me that they miss the consistent, predictable role that the UK plays in upholding the rule of law, and the rules based order,’ he said.
‘It was a fundamental mistake of this government to basically walk away from an agreement they signed with the European Union, and put on the table the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill and jeopardise our position.
‘Our reputation is on the floor because we had a prime minister that described our close ally, France, President Macron, as an enemy.
‘It’s on the floor because we cut aid from 0.7 per cent to 0.5 per cent and then we’re spending the lion’s share of that 0.5 per cent domestically here in the UK, not abroad.’
But Conservative Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson accused Mr Lammy’s party of failing to ‘get over’ its EU ‘obsession’.
He said: ‘Labour has admitted that their number one priority is to beg the EU to allow us back crawling on our hands and knees into their political union.
‘Sir Keir spent years trying to block Brexit and overturn the largest democratic vote in this country’s history – and still can’t get over his EU obsession.
Earlier this year Mr Lammy called for a ‘Britain Reconnected’ that would be ‘outside of the EU but a leader in Europe once again’
‘Only the Conservative government can be trusted to protect Brexit and deliver on the issues that matter to real people. Halving inflation. Growing the economy. Reducing debt. Cutting waiting lists. Stopping the boats.’
Last month Sir Keir Starmer admitted that he would renegotiate the Brexit deal if he becomes prime minister.
He previously called for a second EU referendum, and has branded the treatment of EU residents after the Brexit vote as ‘shameful’.
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