David Miliband Urges UK Consensus on Rejoining EU as £9 Billion Reset Falls Short
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 23
David Miliband Urges UK Consensus on Rejoining EU as £9 Billion Reset Falls Short
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 23
David Miliband said Britain should build a “national consensus” around rejoining the EU, calling membership a long-term goal after reports the government floated a goods-only single market with Brussels.
£9 billion in gains by 2040 from Labour’s current reset is too small for a £3 trillion economy, he said, arguing the UK needs a far deeper, institutional relationship with Europe.
Miliband also said Britain cannot expect to recover its pre-2016 deal, with the EU now focused more on Ukraine’s path into the bloc and possible tiered or associate membership models.
The intervention widens pressure on the government to discuss Europe more openly, as pro-EU campaigners say single-market access alone will not answer the broader question of Britain’s long-term direction.
With Ukraine's EU membership the priority, is the door to a closer UK-EU relationship now closed?
Could a new post-war style consensus truly mend Britain's deep divisions over its European future?
Can Britain align with a Europe seeking autonomy while remaining deeply tied to the United States?
The Cost of Caution: How Labour’s Incremental EU Approach Risks Prolonging the UK’s 4-5% GDP Loss
Overview
David Miliband is calling for a national consensus on a deeper UK-EU relationship, arguing that the Labour government’s current incremental and sector-based approach is not enough to address the UK’s major challenges. While the government, led by Keir Starmer, is working to reset relations with the EU as promised in its 2024 manifesto, it has set clear red lines against rejoining the single market, customs union, or allowing freedom of movement. This cautious strategy, focused on specific agreements, has sparked debate about whether it can deliver the economic and political stability the UK needs.