A Labour civil war has erupted over Brexit after Wes Streeting's call to rejoin the European Union was slapped down by fellow Remainer Yvette Cooper. The Foreign Secretary warned the Labour leadership hopeful that he cannot 'turn back the clock' on the 2016 referendum, which saw 17.4 million Britons vote to leave the EU.
Streeting's Brexit Pledge Sparks Backlash
Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who is challenging Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership, described Brexit as a 'catastrophic mistake' and vowed to 'one day' undo the decision. However, his stance has drawn sharp criticism from within his own party.
Yvette Cooper, speaking to The Sun during a visit to India, said: 'Some people think we shouldn't talk to our European neighbours, other people think we should be turning back the clock. We can't turn back the clock.' She added: 'We should be moving forward in new partnerships, working constructively, on issues from outside the EU.'
Labour's Brexit Divisions Deepen
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he will stick to the manifesto commitment not to rejoin the EU, the customs union, or the single market in the current Parliament. However, the government's EU negotiator, Nick Thomas-Symonds, admitted the party would consider its position on Brexit after the next election.
Ms Cooper emphasised: 'We had those debates, it was done. We had a referendum. We had a whole long debate for several years afterwards. Now, from outside of the EU, we can have good relationships, and we should have good relationships.'
The Express Campaign
The Daily Express, which campaigned for Brexit, has long been a Eurosceptic voice. The paper's stance contrasts with Mr Streeting's push to reverse the 'once-in-a-generation' vote.
Leadership Challenge
Mr Streeting's leadership bid comes after the Makerfield by-election. He has locked horns with Sir Keir over Brexit, but faces opposition from senior Labour figures like Ms Cooper, who argue the party must move forward rather than revisit past divisions.
