A Labour politician has triggered fury after laying out signals that the UK is rejoining the EU. Labour councillor for the new St James ward in Waltham Forest, London, Sebastian Salek said on Meta's social media site Threads: "It’s not obvious yet, but the EU rejoining process has already begun. Not through campaigns or slogans – but technical deals and unsexy laws."
Firstly, he said: "Rachel Reeves has confirmed the Labour is discussing a scheme to allow young Brits to work in Europe. That’s a big shift from ‘No plans for a youth mobility scheme’, which was the line before the election."
Next, he notes that a food standards deal would "eliminate checks on food and drink that’s exported to the EU, and sent from Great Britain to Northern Ireland". Thirdly, Cllr Salek said that the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill "allows the UK to choose whether to recognise EU product rules". This is currently going through Parliament. Next, there is the matter of "relinking UK and EU carbon markets".
The councillor added: "Both sides charge companies for the pollution they produce. Linking the systems would let UK and EU firms trade these carbon permits freely."
Finally, he said that a defence agreement is "the biggie", as it "would allow British defence companies to bid for money from the €150bn EU defence fund."
Cllr Salek concluded: "Step one of rejoining is rebuilding trust and institutional ties. That’s why these deals matter. They’re the groundwork any future rejoin campaign will need.
"The process will take time. But this is how it starts."
Reform UK MP James McMurdoch has lashed out at the Conservatives and Labour over the issue. He told the Express: "The Uniparty has completely failed to capitalise on the potential benefits offered by Brexit and now they are looking to betray Brexit by the back door."
The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has rejected suggestions the UK will rejoin the EU, insisting the UK's future has been decided.
He said in February: “I’ve been very clear since I became Prime Minister that I do want a reset of the relationship between the UK and the EU.
“That does not involve a return to the European Union – we had a referendum here on that, and that matter is settled.
“But I do want to see a closer relationship on defence and security, on energy, on trade and our economy, and that is what we’re working on.
“I think that is certainly in the UK’s best interest, I do believe it’s in the EU’s best interest, and already I hope that in the last seven months there’s been a manifest difference in approach, tone and relationship.”
