Brexit and Britain’s relationship with Europe are major issues, yet politicians have stayed quiet about them during this election. Here are the key points:
- Both Labour and Conservatives are avoiding the Brexit topic
- They fear it will spark debates around immigration
- This could give rise to anti-immigrant rhetoric from far-right groups
- But is it dishonest for leaders to ignore such an important subject?
Why aren’t the big parties discussing Brexit – shouldn’t voters hear their stances?
Lord Heseltine’s Frustration
Former Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine is frustrated that neither Labour nor the Tories are addressing Brexit properly. He believes Britain’s future ties with Europe are the “overarching issue of our time.”
In his view, the parties are scared to bring up Brexit because it could let far-right anti-immigrant voices like Nigel Farage dominate the debate. He points to past examples of racist rhetoric around immigration from groups like Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists.
Lord Heseltine says it’s “dishonest” for politicians to offer policies without discussing cooperation with Europe. As a European power, he argues Britain’s interests are tied to the continent.
Britain’s Economic Interests
Prominent business leaders agree the UK should restore closer ties to Europe for economic reasons. The President of the British Chambers of Commerce has stated that many companies she represents want a renewed relationship with the EU.
Commentators have also argued in major newspapers like The Times and Financial Times that Brexit is hurting British economic prospects and competitiveness. They suggest re-aligning with Europe would benefit business and trade.
Labour’s Stance on Europe
While critical of both parties’ stances, Lord Heseltine says he could never support the Conservatives after their pursuit of a hard Brexit against his belief in European integration.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has indicated that Labour would aim for a closer EU relationship if elected, including trade, defence, security, and education. However, Lord Heseltine dismisses Starmer’s comments as just “platitudes” that lack real detail.
In Lord Heseltine’s eyes, neither party is being fully honest with voters about how central the European question is to Britain’s future.
Conclusion
The issue of Brexit and UK-EU relations is clearly still an important one, despite politicians’ efforts to avoid it this election. Many experts and business leaders believe Britain’s economic success depends on cooperation with Europe.
However, some politicians may be trying to sidestep the subject out of fear of inflaming anti-immigrant sentiment. The question is: Should leaders be upfront about such a major issue, even if it risks controversy? Over to you – what do you think?
