Arabic version: تسليط الضوء على أهمية بريكست السياسية في مسابقة قيادة حزب العمال
According to BBC News,
The UK’s relationship with the EU looks set to become an issue in both a possible Labour leadership contest and the coming by-election in the Makerfield constituency. Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, in his first public appearance since resigning from the cabinet, told an audience in London on Saturday that “leaving the European Union was a catastrophic mistake”. At the Progress Conference, organised by the “Blairite” wing of the Labour Party, he announced he would contest a formal challenge to replace Sir Keir Starmer.
Streeting’s comments prompted a swift response from Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake, who criticized Labour for focusing on Brexit instead of pressing issues like the cost of living and public services. Under Sir Keir Starmer, Labour have trod warily around the issue of Brexit, sticking to “red lines” that, while seeking a closer relationship with the EU, the UK would not be rejoining either the EU’s single market or a customs union.
In his speech, Streeting emphasized that Brexit has left the UK “less wealthy, less powerful, and less in control than at any point since before the Industrial Revolution,” advocating for a new relationship with the EU and suggesting that rejoining the union could be on the table if a new mandate is secured. His remarks have drawn attention to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who is campaigning for the Labour candidacy in the Makerfield by-election, which the BBC understands will likely take place on 18 June.
Burnham has expressed that while he sees a long-term case for rejoining the EU, he is “not advocating that in this by-election”. Reform UK is leveraging the Brexit issue to rally voters in Makerfield, where 65% supported leaving the EU in the 2016 referendum. The party’s recent performance in local elections indicates a significant voter base, raising concerns for Labour.
As the political landscape shifts, the Labour Party faces challenges in navigating its Brexit stance, with both Streeting and Burnham’s positions likely to be pivotal in the ongoing discourse. The situation underscores Brexit’s enduring impact on UK politics and its role as a dividing line among parties and voters.
