The United Kingdom probably has the most screwed-up political environment of any NATO member right now. The US is in a close second, but we are not still having politicians beat their chest about Brexit and how great it was, even though it has been a disaster to the British economy.
In England, there are realistically only three options, the Tories, Labour, and the Liberal Democrats.
The Tories and Labour are both Euroskeptic, supported Brexit, and defend it today.
The Liberal Democrats opposed Brexit in 2016 and 2020 and are the only major English party advocating for the United Kingdom to rejoin the European Union, which is the only sane option.
Unfortunately, the Liberal Democrats want to keep the energy price cap at its current level, so they are not perfect, and no one in the UK is advocating for a fee and dividend approach.
However, the Liberal Democrats remain the only English party advocating for the UK to rejoin the European Union, so they are the only good party running in England today. If you live in the UK, they deserve your vote.
Labour and the Tories just aren’t that different anymore.
Overall
Labour has made three promises: not to rejoin the single market and customs union, and they oppose freedom of movement. This has already been demonstrated in their flat-out opposition to an agreement to make it easier for British students to study in the European Union.
The European Union has already made it very clear that if they want a trade deal more than just a free trade agreement like what the EU has with Canada, they would need to have the UK join the customs union. Only the customs union will give the UK the benefits of shorter lines for trucks when they cross into France.
The Labour or Conservative Parties cannot lower trade costs with the EU without breaking a red line Keir Starmer has already drawn.
It won’t have lower costs until the UK wants to join the customs union.
Unless the UK wants freedom of movement, British students will be treated like Canadians or Americans when applying to European Union universities.
The only way for the United Kingdom to relieve the pain of Brexit is through either:
- Join the Customs Union
- Benefits: No taxes with the rest of the customs union. British companies get a competitive advantage.
- Red line: trade policy is negotiated as a bloc.
- Join the EFTA:
- Benefits: all of the benefits of the European Economic Area, lower regulations for trade, more standing on the world stage
- Red line: No free movement, regulatory autonomy, no financial contribution
- Join the European Union:
- Benefits: customs union, open border with the European Union
- Red line: Loss of monetary autonomy, all of the above
I do not believe the UK will be able to rejoin the European Union with any opt outs again.
The minimum of what the UK should do is join the EFTA and then push for more nationalities to use the egates, including the ones who currently can use the British egates.
This is the only way for things to change.