UK will not accept EU offer to join pan-European customs union 'at present time', minister says

Heaven help us

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/jan/23/keir-starmer-eu-sadiq-khan-latest-live-politics-news?page=with%3Ablock-6791fe828f086e1515d836d1

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🤣
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Absolute idiot the UK cannot afford Brexit on top of everything else the NHS is struggling to get drugs.
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I never expect this govt to work well, but dear God almighty
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No. Do we need the Lib/Dems and Greens instead?
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Probably not, we need a new system
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How do we get a new system without Lib/Dems and Greens?
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This labour party is just more Tories - i left because Starmer lied and purged socialists from the party
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"At the present time".
They're so gonna do it. And they need to do it in time for it to make a difference in public and private finances before the next election.
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Correct - so show some balls and do it now.
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Labour still desperately trying to claw at that Reform/Tory voter base like any of those people would ever vote labour in the first place.

Their utter terror of the media possibly calling them "pro Europe." Is hilariously palpable.
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Somebody needs to explain to him that all the Brexit supporting Labour voters have gone to Reform and won't be coming back.
The only supporters labour have now are Remain/Rejoin supporters.
At this rate they will soon be going to Lib Dem.
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If they want to come to the Lib Dem’s more the merrier.
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Or the Greens, which would be a good thing, surely?
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Why is there such a refusal to acknowledge the situation we are in and the sanest way to resolve it???
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Sigh
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Doomed more like.
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Customs union wasn't even in the top ten reasons for voting leave.
"Sovereignty" was top, but labour will crawl on their knees to give that up for a trade deal with the fascists in the US.
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Petrified of the r/w press and willing to sacrifice businesses not to mention the cost for low income families,the irony is they will find something else to attack him,
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Why not?
It would help if they would explain.
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A deeply stupid stance from Labour.
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Everything Starmer does is deeply stupid 🤷‍♀️
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Strange how failed PMs are always dishing out advice.
We have one in Australia too.
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He's continuing with the Tory plan of sinking the UK economy so the country can be brought by private equity firms.
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Very very disappointing
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It’s not true Julie.
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Well that’s a bit more hopeful, I don’t understand the reticence to rejoin the customs union it would immediately help growth. We really need to stay close to Europe especially with that nutjob in the white house.
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I am really starting to despise this Labour Party spineless gutless cowards governing the country to suit Farage the Daily Mail and their racist followers and fkn the rest of us🤮
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they want a US deal with trump instead.
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FFS
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Starmer wants freeports and SEZs. The EU won’t accept the UK’s versions of them, and Starmer knows it. He’s putting corporate interests ahead of what’s best for the British people. Just like the Tories always did, and always will.
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I joined Labour before the last election & actively campaigned for my MP.

Like many others, I thought Brexit could wait as GTTO was the No. 1 priority.

But if this Labour Red Line continues I will be campaigning for a pro EU party/Lib Dems at the next election.

@dantomlinson.bsky.social
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I wouldn't bother with the Lib Dems, I've already lost all faith in @tommorrisonmp.bsky.social , my MP, for their complete inaction on a number of issues.
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Downing Street has said that joining a Europe-wide customs agreement as suggested by the European Union would not cross the government’s “red lines” for closer relations. with the EU.
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Just read the latest update.

I hope things move swiftly.
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Pathetic Govt when it comes to Trade and the Economy… absolutely pathetic. And so utterly disingenuous to claim that they will maximise economic growth .. they won’t ! @uklabourparty.bsky.social
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😳
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@teamlabouruk.bsky.socia
What are you scared of!
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Upsetting that they are prepared to "listen to the concerns of the non-dom community" and amend legiststion in their favour, whilst simultaneously disregarding catastrophic damage being wrought by Brexit. And I'm on a bloody diet so I can't even smash a Toblerone into my face to ease my sorrows.
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Need to wait for more gammon to kick the bucket first. He knows the score.
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Something not right here there is no possible reason not what are they not telling????😡
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Absolute Bollocks!
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He'll condemn us all if he keeps this up.

Labour were elected to fix the Tory's mess, not continue it.
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Short sighted politics. I hoped for a change of attitude from the new government.
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What is their argument other than internal Labour politics. I would argue it is vital that Europe establishes itself as a rival peer superpower asap (federalisation?). As the USA implodes, it could be a new shining city on the hill. Appealing to the disaffected. We should be part of this.
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What's wrong with them, it's obvious we need to get back in the EU, why can't they admit that it was a mistake to leave, or is it their own pride getting in the way of logic and coming sense. Ok I've had my rant now lol.
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We are treading water in a post Brexit economy - the sooner the damage is undone, the sooner people will feel the benefit and ignore the easy answers of the far right.
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I've said it before and I'll say it again. Labour needs to grow a collective pair and just say they're going to restart negotiations on rejoining the EU. Ignore the far right loons and just do it. Delay only makes things worse.
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Starmer won't stand up to the far right in any issue. He didn't even condemn Musk's Hitler salute.
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👏
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You’re 100% spot on but the simple fact is Starmer’s a political coward. A strong leader would just say f*** Farage and the right-wing media, we’re doing this, but he’s no backbone at all. A complete weakling.
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Being polite here but they really are a bunch of arseholes
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This stubbornness is why my vote went to Green Party … at least I can vote w a conscience .. this sham ‘Labour’ mess will not return to govt next GE …
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Your “Labor” government’s starting to
look as piss weak dithery as ours down under 😩
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What more?
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Sighing so hard I've hurt my back
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If the thinking is to stay distant from European regulations because the US trade will save us, someone should tell them the orange man baby won’t do a thing to assist. Not a sausage.
Stupid reluctance.
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I don't understand this move.
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Starmer's just a red tory, nothing else.

We see you.
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Do you think maybe Labour have decided it's all too f##ked to fix, and just want to get voted out?.
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Starver is a clown.
No different from the Tories.
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I despair, I really do. It's plain commense sense to have close links with your neighbours. What is wrong with our politicians?
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A single step to transform the UK economy, instead Labour head to Donald Trump with a begging bowl.
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I have to say Labour feels less familiar day by day
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It will come … don’t give up folks. The U.K. cannot financially afford to be out of the EU

The fact is was mooted in the first place (albeit by the EU) was unprecedented

Imo Lab feel they cannot be seen to be leading the way here

Political game playing: - ‘hard to get’
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‘at present time’ feels quite deliberate.
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Running scared from a party with 5 MPs 🙄
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As there is no heaven or god around to help us, we have to help ourselves. We need to vote in the May local elections for parties that will bring us back into Europe, the leading party being the Greens. As a bonus you get to have an inhabitable planet, and after a bit of wrangling rid us of monarchy
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They extended the hand of friendship & you are crazy to reject it. We, the people, want our membership & rights restored. We voted you into power & if you delay on this vital move you will lose our support to the greener & eu positive Lib Dems.
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We need to know what advice Starmer is receiving, if any?
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It will be a mistake if the United Kingdom and certain Balkan countries don’t enter the European Union and the Schengen Area. It would develop our European economy a lot.
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Perhaps ask us again. A complete slap in the face to the EU. It's a wonder they even bother with us.
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Agree. KS says EU does not stretch out its hand out. What is that then?
In times of change being able to adapt & navigate is key for any successful PM. KS instead is inflexible & stubborn which makes him unsuited.
He is dangerous for Labour (see polling) & UK. Rupert Murdoch must be pleased.
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I had zero hope for this government and they’re still managing to disappoint me.
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His stubbornness is a wilful disregard of the country’s best interests.
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This government are an utter waste of space
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Red Tories. Who cares what the Right Wing nut jobs think do the right thing for the countries growth and kick that clusterf@ck of a disaster Brexit into the long grass
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Peter, you need to explore what is happening around Freeports and SEZ'd (Special Enterprise Zones), we are very, very unlikely to join Europe while these are being developed.
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I bet america threatened them
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This Labour government has been such a disappointment. Who to vote for at the next GE?
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They're scared of the reaction from farage etc al.
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I don't understand 😕
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Guardian is now suggesting they might be amenable, as it’s “not a customs union”. I can’t help thinking that the nomenclature is their only key criterion.
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Just bizarre isn’t it?!

So desperate for ways to grow the economy they’re canvassing for ideas from everyone and anyone.

Yet the one surefire way to achieve it is provided on a plate and subsequently rejected.

You’d expect them to understand the public consensus from their own polls
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we're going to witness the same bs that happened in US elections unfold in the next GE and I already dread it
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What is wrong with these people 😔
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We are stupid and we are sticking to it
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What is fking wrong with these people. Can't they just accept a mistake and move on. EU needed for strength against the monster Trump now more than ever.
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And that just destroyed thousands of micro businesses across the country.
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This government is one of the most incompetent and stupid government ever! I knew Starmer would be bad but not this bad!
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More Tory than the Tories.
Determined to pander to the Press rather than do what the majority of us want.
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Ffs!!! Can Labour not read the room!?!?! They’re fucked if they can’t demonstrate significant economic improvement and the EU door is ajar
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why?
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Why are Starmer and Labour so insistent in perpetuating the economic self-harm?
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In the context of the OBR reporting that UK trade has been torpedoed by Brexit to the tune of 15%, this is crazy! Am I missing something?
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Calm down Peter, stop the ranting. We don’t want to whip up the Brexit voting working class. Labour have said “at present time”.
Let’s get to the 1st anniversary(July).
Let’s let the dust settle on the first 100 days of POTUS 47.
The PM will get there, but slowly.
#Hare+Tortoise
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I don’t get it!! Surely this is an olive branch
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How do the FBPE people feel about that?
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Starmer is so terribly, awfully, unutterably shit, it’s painful to watch. No wonder this country’s going down the shitter; we’re in an irreversible downward spiral with these bought and paid for conduit lackeys and the dimwitted rubes who support them.
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growth, growth, growth!
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It's the zionist party line.
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How a political party can tank its popularity...
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What the...?
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Disgusting behaviour from our lily-livered lawyer if we don't return to the EU.
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FFS!
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PEM isn't a customs union.

It is customs arrangements around rules of origin.
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It's becoming more and more obvious that Labour are pinning all their economic hopes on Freeports and SEZs. That will keep us out of the EU for decades. So far this Government has done nothing to help the people, just a lot more sucking up to big business and to hell with what the rest of us want.
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There are about 80 Freeports/SEZs in the EU. The UK had five of them until 2012.
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True, but the freeports now being set up in the UK do not follow the EU model and would preclude us from rejoining.
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Once upon a #Tory government they had a minister for #BrexitBenefits. He never found any.
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Can we define present time? Is it we will join the euro when the time is right and the stars align time? Or next year?
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Sigh!
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Happy to chuck environmental regulations out the window and let the world burn to "grow the economy", but won't enter into a customs-union with our closest trade partner to do the same
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I think the time has come to tell Starmer to fuck off.
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Disappionting, especially as it was a such an unequivocal rejection. the lack of transparency here is appalling. On the one hand they talk about growth, growth, growth, but on the other, dismiss out of hand an open goal.
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WTF is wrong with these people? Scared of upsetting the Brexshitteers? Bollicks to them, now the proof can ve seen in tge pudding, large majority regret leaving. Have some balls Starmer and co, I'm defecting to the Greens. Sick of your lack of backbone, all of you. 😡
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Who needs growth? 🤦🏻‍♂️
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If Labour continues blindly down this route, then I can see the Lib Dems gaining even more seats next time round.
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I think a lot of people who voted labour this time just won't turn out to vote, and we'll end up with a tory/reform coalition at the next GE.
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I don't know. It's more than four years off, and lots can happen and develop.
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That's true, and I hope it doesn't turn out that way. But I think it would be prudent to learn from the US and act now as though the worst will happen in 4 years. Starmer should be making radical changes that can't easily be undone. I would adopt the Euro and see if they can unpick that one.
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If be fine with that, however, I fear it will be a coalition of fascists led by reform ltd.
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Good!
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What a complete Berkshire
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This is economic and political madness.
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Brexit destroyed the Tories, it will destroy Labour!
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Starmer needs to read the room.
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Depressing.
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Isn't it. I can't understand it.
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Maybe next week sometime?
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Looks like my Labour Party membership will be cancelled then. Idiotic.
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And for the agnostics/atheists out there, has anyone got an advisor that hasn't got their head where the sun don't shine? 🤬
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Appears not ☹️
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They need to take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror. Who do they think they are representing?
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How many own goals do our governments want to score. Economy is very poor at the moment and only going to get worse with the cost of borrowing going up. This would be a positive step in the right direction for once.
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No wonder the LibDems are gaining ground

The voters (well 62% of them) aren't stupid
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WTF is he doing? We're going to get the Ltd company as our next government, even Labour supporters are peed off.
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Idiots
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Not sure if I'm just seeing far left posts all the time, but this is grating. If we have the option of moving closer to the EU without undermining Brexit, then we should be taking it. Feeling a bit hopeless.
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Why not undermine Brexit? It’s been an unmitigated disaster. There’s not one single positive outcome unless you count blue passports, pot holes or shit in our rivers as positives.
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Simply because there's no mandate to undo Brexit but that doesn't mean we can't have a stronger relationship with our closest and best allies in the EU and Starmer needs to be proactive in making it happen, not sucking up to the US. I'm more to the right of the left and believe in the welfare state.
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There’s a majority now that acknowledges Brexit as being a mistake that’s causing continued economic damage and when something isn’t working, people reserve the right to change it. Brexit is no different and Labour’s refusal to tackle the issue is because they’re afraid of Reform.
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It was always going to be an unmitigated disaster but people wanted it and now they've got it. There will be a visceral reaction if Labour try to actually undo Brexit. They need to be smarter than that and aim to be like Norway. Then sell it to the Reform contingent to win the next election.
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Jeez … is there a white flag to roll out to the mad President ? Get a bloody grip.
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They are looking after the non doms though having listened to their concerns…
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Absolutely bloody infuriating - what could possibly be the reason for not moving forward with this?? The way this Labour government (and indeed the Conservative government) is heading could well end up with it resulting in LibDem/Greens v Reform at the next G.E.
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You say that as if it’s a bad thing…I’d be happy with that outcome.
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As long as the LD/Greens prevail (for avoidance of doubt 😉)
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As a LibDem member I am actually deeply concerned concerned about the direction in which both Labour and the Tories are heading.
I fear we may end up with the next G.E. resembling that of the recent U.S. election. Liberal democrats v corporate fascists backed by billionaires.
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Reform are exactly the corporate fascists you’re talking about
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And so are Starmer's Labour
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'Reform PLC' was indeed to whom I was referring!
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Labour Party are the new Conservative Party 🤬
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Big move forward from what he said in July to be fair.
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I read that the minister hasn't got clearance to say anything else. I doubt that's what's going on behind the scenes. Their public messaging though is awful.
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Idiots
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Indeed
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Why? I just don’t get it.
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At this point you have to assume it's deliberate. Just waiting for a trade "deal" with the orange rapist which screws the UK.
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There must be a good reason. The Government needs to tell us what that reason is.
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He ruled it out countless times before the GE, so he can't change tack now. He needs to be replaced.
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Also, reversing brexit means instantly the Tories + Reform + the right wing media coalescing under the europhobic flag, possibly led by Farage. At the moment the competition between the right factions benefits Labour, but it's a very dangerous gamble...
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I really don't give a flying fuck whether they coalesce under the europhobic flag or they coalesce under everything else that they're already coalescing under. What Labour need to do is the right thing for the country (backed by 65% of folk who think Brexit was a mistake).
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The point of democracy is that we're allowed to change our minds. The right wing rags would, of course, crucify Labour for reversing brexit. Then there's Farage and his mates in the BBC. I think Starmer should consider another referendum, a properly written one this time.
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What he should've done was put it in their manifesto before the GE. They'd still have walked it.
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Manifesto promises are rarely adhered to. Something else must be behind his decision to remain outside the EU.
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Starmer just needs to go
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So does Reeves.
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I’d also add Streeting
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And Lammy.
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Scared stiff that his main plan for growth …Free Ports / SEZs aka Devolution would be undermined
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What’s the strategy here? I just don’t get it.
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But he wants to make deals with Trump, wtf is Labour doing man.
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so we need a (massive) swing to the libdems before the next GE.

How bad do labour allow the UK trade position get before they listen and finally accept the inevitable.
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I give in. 🤬🤬🤬

O don't understand what their problem is with this idea. Do they have a death wish?
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This is utterly ridiculous. How much more proof do the Government need that we would be better aligned to the EU going forward?
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So still Brexit? Is this guy paid by Russians or just stupid?
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Are they deliberately trying to alienate their voter base?
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Successfully so, in my case.
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They think their voter base are all the brexity types that they lost in 2019.
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Worse. With FPTP parties can rely on tiny majorities and disregard voters. Unless we switch to a different voting system the disconnect between government policies and the country will stay huge.
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They seem determined to do just that. Frustrating.
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I loaned them my LD vote last year. If this continues, I won't repeat.
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It's infuriating....
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They are pissing me off.
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Me too.
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And Starmer & Labour both drop further in the polls.

Alienate the core party moderate vote pursuing an extremist minority who wouldn't piss on you if your were on fire.

Genius.
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Why on earth not???
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Lib dems should be plotting the path to take over Labour. Everyone talks about Tories and Reform but Lib Dems can be a worthy opposition.
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....and I would do anything for growth..... but I won't do that.
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Starmer is busy stuffing his chances of a 2nd term straight down the toilet. I've run out of any reasons for this mindless obstruction to EU. The whole world is joining blocks and remaining a tiny island in the Atlantic is a hopeless position.
Even Greenland gas Denmark and the EU backing them.
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Think, why would they do that? What force is behind this? They’re losing supporters daily!
Crazy decision given the economic situation they find themselves in!
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Can't upset the right wing press. How long economic reality can be ignored is another question.
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This could be the single stupidest thing @uklabour have done. It is literally madness.
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You just can’t make this up and here we are scrapping around for 0.01 growth ffs
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It's time for Starmer to step up, to show his hand to explain to us what he's about.
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Starmer et al seem to have got into power and thought oh fuck, let’s make ourselves unelectable again asap.
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The UK gov is focusing too much on appeasing the right wing rather than doing what is right for the UK. We are not going to ge a trade deal with the US and why would we want to align ourselves with a country that is currently demonstrating full blown fascism.
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So they’re saying we want less favourable trade terms than [checks notes] Algeria? Righty ho
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What is up with them? Spineless. It was a nearly 50/50 vote yet all parties behave like it wasn’t. Most Brexiteers are no longer with us.
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Utterly pathetic and almost certainly self destructive.
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If they applied this logic to take what is owed from the accounts of google, X, Amazon and other grifting multi nationals and self righteous multi millionaires that don't contribute their share of earnings, then they might get a round of applause. But that wouldn't stimulate growth now would it?
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😐 we should be making closer links with the EU especially now Trump is in power
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Starmer seems to believe all he needs to do is loads of work in secret and then bring a rabbit out of his hat 6 months before the next election to win it. He's that naive. People make their minds up how they'll vote just after the last election when people assess if they did what they wanted.
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People voted for a change from Tory policies yet here is trumpeting the Reform tune, marching behind Farage while the rest of the country are moving the other way. All he's doing is making Reform stronger, not Labour. Economic negligence to refuse to join the Customs Union. Chasing growth? Er, no.
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It's ridiculous!

It's not even a customs union, but a scheme to mitigate the Rules of Origin quagmire.

Plus it's not just the EU but Israel + Morocco + Turkey too.

Nor does it require any kind of alignment.

It's a no-brainer, except for our Govt, which is braindead when it comes to #Brexit.
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Makes me pleased to have moved to France well before this insanity took place.
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🤦🏻eyes wide shut
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Why are they not working to get us back into the EU? Something stinks. They know how unpopular Brexit is.
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😵‍💫
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To quote Omid Djalili “I’ve made my decision”. We’ll all drown in tariffs, paperwork and other trade barriers……but ”I’ve made my decision”!
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Will someone ask Starmer why not???
Does he have a reason??
Has he done a deal with someone before the election??
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Coward
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At present time is not never
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All Labour seem to be doing is ensuring they are voted out at the next election.
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Get rid of that guy asap before he wrecks generational good will Labor got worst than Blair.
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To my Scottish "Blueskyers" you all know what we need to do.
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So disappointing to hear this. Why does this government persist in keeping with the Tories on Brexit? It was and still is, a horrible idea. We need to get back to the EU as soon as possible. If they’ll have us
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Restore access to single market. Enable more student visas. Two simple steps that would actually help economic growth.
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It was the last straw for me - cancelled my Labour Party membership
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It appears then the the Liberal Democrats are the only progressive alternative. Labour continue to disappoint!
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He’s starting to look like Lord Frost already.
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😢
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Insert multiple facepalm gifs here.

FFS.
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Absolutely infuriating! We are one of the many thousands of small businesses who currently CAN'T export to the EU at all! The sheer insanity of it all...
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Yer but blue passports...
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Haha.... I don't get one for another year! Dreading it...
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I have to apply for one before September 😫. A friend of mine has a wallet for hers, which reads, "I voted Remain"
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Is it illegal to "deface" the actual passport I wonder?
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Probably!
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good idea!
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I'm hoping to get one for mine.
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Me too!
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I thought the priority was growth …
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I can't work out what's going on here - it's bizarre ...
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The penny is finally starting to drop with all the Starmer fan boys.
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Insane.
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Just have to face facts folks. Labour are shit.
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This ☝️.
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Very important to understand that is is NOT a customs union. It is much less ambitious agreement which eases some paperwork on rules of origin. That is all. No reason why shouldn't join it - economically or politically
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It's going to too late before he notices the world is changing isn't it? Britain will be Home Alone.
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Ffs.
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Unbelievable!
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Oh, FFS! Am I to understand you no longer want my vote?
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Deranged idiots..
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Utter stupidity.
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The article says "Downing Street says EU’s suggestion of UK joining agreement would not cross its ‘red lines’ for closer ties".

This seems to indicate the gov is in favour.
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GDs teeth
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