Honest discussions are necessary in EU debate ten years on from the referendum
The vote to leave the European Union was shorn of honesty. Whether it was the doomsday scenarios being predicted by those who wished to remain a part of the single bloc or promises of sunlit uplands made by the Leave campaign, the 2016 referendum ended up promising different things to different people.
While those who wanted Britain to leave the EU will not want to see the referendum result overturned, the messy nature of the campaign has long left the issue of the country’s relationship with the EU in limbo.
Further complicating matters is the fact that the world looks a vastly different place compared to a decade ago.
Therefore it is right that the Prime Minister is calling for an “honest discussion” on what Britain’s relationship with the EU should look like. Especially as current immigration policy is not working.
Andy Burnham said the small boats crisis has arisen in the last 10 years as a result of the loss of the returns agreement that Britain had with the EU.
Burnham’s predecessor Sir Keir Starmer sought to avoid the issue altogether.
Understandably so given how so many politicians had their fingers burnt as a result of trying to invoke the question.
The PM has signalled that he could fight the next general election on a promise to take the UK back into the EU.
Should the question of what sort of relationship Britain wants with the EU be once again broached, whether by way of another referendum or a manifesto commitment, it needs to be made clear to the electorate what exactly is in the offing.
In an uncertain world, Britain cannot rely on soundbites and wishful thinking. Honest discussions are needed around the country’s relationship with the EU from both sides of the divide.