A fresh row has broken out at the top of the Labour Party after former health secretary Wes Streeting argued that Britain should eventually seek to rejoin the European Union, prompting culture secretary Lisa Nandy to dismiss his comments as “odd”. The dispute highlights deepening divisions within the party as it heads into a crucial by-election in Makerfield that could determine the fate of the government.
Streeting, who resigned on Thursday in protest at Keir Starmer’s leadership, said on Saturday that “Britain’s future lies with Europe – and one day back in the European Union”. He argued that a new “special relationship” with the bloc was needed to boost the economy and defence. Nandy, however, told the BBC she did not understand “why the sudden focus on Europe”, adding that the government was already working to repair the damage of the “poor Brexit deal” without reopening old arguments.
Allies of Streeting hit back, accusing Nandy of a reluctance to take political risks that they said was symptomatic of why Starmer is unpopular. “There is no point in trying not to upset anybody, that’s what got us into this problem,” one ally said. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the row as a “sign of the Labour party that does not have a plan for the country”, accusing it of wanting to “refight wars which were settled a long time ago”.
The argument comes as potential leadership candidates begin to set out their visions, with Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham – expected to stand in the Makerfield by-election on a promise to challenge Starmer – saying he saw a “long-term case” for rejoining the EU, though he stressed he was not advocating it during the campaign. Burnham has won permission from Labour’s national executive committee to stand, and his confirmation as the candidate is expected next week, kicking off a process that could decide the next prime minister.
