Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has launched a fierce attack on the Labour government, accusing it of reopening the bitter divisions of the Brexit debate in a desperate attempt to rally its core voters.
Labour's Customs Union Chatter Exposes 'Weakness'
In a column for the Daily Mail, the former Trade Secretary condemned growing calls from within Sir Keir Starmer's cabinet for the UK to rejoin the European Union's customs union. She argued that this chatter reveals a government with no plan or new ideas, seeking to revive old arguments for political gain.
Her intervention follows comments from Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who stated that a 'deeper trading relationship with the EU' was the best path to economic improvement. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has also repeatedly refused to rule out reversing elements of Brexit.
Adding to the pressure, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak has urged the Prime Minister not to rule out a customs union, despite it being one of Starmer's stated 'red lines' on EU relations.
Trade Policy is Power, Warns Badenoch
Mrs Badenoch was scathing in her assessment, claiming that advocates for a customs union, including 'trade union bosses', do not understand what it entails. She stressed that trade policy is power, and a nation that cedes control of it surrenders its ability to govern itself effectively.
She warned that rejoining the EU's customs framework would force Britain to abandon the independent trade deals it has secured since leaving the bloc, including agreements with major economies like the United States and India. Furthermore, she cautioned it would open the door to relentless demands for further concessions from Brussels.
Listing the government's policy reversals on issues from Winter Fuel Payments to Inheritance Tax on farms, Badenoch said: 'Now that the government is weak and has no plan or new ideas, it has re-opened old Brexit wounds in the vain hope that doing so will make it more popular.'
A Plea for Change in 2026
In her New Year's message, Badenoch urged the public not to 'lose hope' despite facing higher taxes and unemployment under Labour in 2025. She framed the next election as a crucial turning point, stating: 'Don't let the politics of grievance tell you that we're destined to stay the same. Things can change, but you also need to vote for the change you want to see in 2026.'
The row coincides with reflections on the decade since the Brexit referendum. Former Tory minister Lord Gove admitted on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast that he regretted destroying Boris Johnson's leadership campaign after the vote, arguing it prevented the Vote Leave team from implementing their preferred Brexit plan.
Meanwhile, former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Nick Clegg conceded that the Remain campaign was 'lamentable' and failed to counter the powerful, emotive 'take back control' message of the Leave side.
