The head of Britain's leading trade union body has issued a stark warning that the UK must urgently strengthen its relationship with the European Union, branding former US President Donald Trump an "unreliable partner" on the global stage.
Moving Past Referendum Divisions
In an exclusive interview, Trades Union Congress (TUC) General Secretary Paul Nowak stated that nearly a decade after the 2016 EU referendum, the old battle lines between Leavers and Remainers have faded. He argued there is now a common-sense consensus that the "botched Tory Brexit deal" needs to be repaired for the good of the country.
Mr Nowak emphasised that the debate is no longer about the politics of the past but about securing the nation's economic future. "It doesn't come down to politics - or whether you voted Brexit or you voted Remain," he explained. The focus, he insists, must be on building the best possible working relationship with the UK's most important trading partner.
The Case for a Customs Union
The TUC leader explicitly called for the government to consider a UK-EU customs union as a viable solution. Such an arrangement would facilitate tariff-free trade in exchange for adhering to common standards for goods.
"We've always been clear that the Government should be prepared to look at every option, up to and including a customs union," Nowak stated. He highlighted key industries like automotive, aerospace, and chemicals that depend on seamless supply chains across the Channel. Frictionless trade with Europe is not a political luxury but an economic necessity, he argued, directly impacting the cost of living for ordinary people through prices in supermarkets.
The Trump Factor and National Security
Paul Nowak directly linked the urgency of a European reset to the uncertainty created by the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House. He pointed to the risks of tariffs and an unpredictable approach to global affairs.
"Donald Trump has proved himself to be an unreliable partner," Nowak asserted. This unreliability makes closer collaboration with European allies vital not just for the economy, but for broader political and national security concerns, including continued support for Ukraine.
The TUC's intervention comes after Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting recently appeared to break ranks with Labour leader Keir Starmer by also endorsing the exploration of a customs union. Nowak's message is unequivocal: fixing the Brexit deal is the "right thing to do for working people" and is fundamentally about pragmatism, not re-running old political fights.
