After ruling out standing as a parliamentary candidate for an eighth time, Nigel Farage, yesterday performed a screeching U-turn, usurped Richard Tice’s leadership of Reform UK, and declared his entry into the electoral fray. In a move that has invoked a predictable media frenzy, Farage will be standing in the Essex constituency of Clacton, once held by his former UKIP colleague Douglas Carswell.
With the halogen firmly focused on Farage’s renewed campaign there is one particularly lame elephant that both the Labour Party and the Conservatives can no longer deny the presence of – Brexit and this country’s broader relationship with the European Union.
European Movement President Lord Heseltine has said the return of Nigel Farage means party leaders “cannot avoid the topic of Brexit any longer”. He went on to say:
“Can we really expect a debate of such importance, where no one talks about the issues we are all facing due to the failure of Brexit? If that happens, it will be fundamentally dishonest.”
So far, both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer have avoided discussing the impact of leaving the EU on the UK’s economy, immigration levels, defence and environment.
A conspiracy of silence on Brexit
Speaking the day after Nigel Farage’s announcement that he will stand as a Reform UK candidate, Lord Heseltine said:
“At nine o’clock this evening the two main party leaders will go head-to-head on ITV. On the issue that is of paramount importance to our country – our relations with Europe – there has been a conspiracy of silence. As I have said before, I believe that this makes the campaigns the most dishonest of modern times.
“However, the reemergence of Nigel Farage blows apart the conspiracy of silence. Brexit is back in dramatic fashion. The issues can now no longer be avoided, and must be challenged head on.
“You cannot have a serious discussion about our defence, economy, environment and much else without close relations with our near neighbours. We must say so. The UKIP and Reform agendas contaminated political discourse about Europe with racist undertones. We must call it out.
“We must show the world how to beat destructive populist argumentation, not avoid it. Now is the time to address the mess we are in, reject the narratives of division, and show how to confidently rebuild our futures with constructive, inclusive political visions.”
The former deputy prime minister’s comments come after new polling by European Movement UK last week showed 65% of people aged 25–34 saw Europe as a key topic over the next five weeks.
The overall figure for the under-40s was 62%. Even in the 65–74 age bracket, well over half wanted discussion of our relationship with the EU back on the table.
The big picture includes the EU
Lord Heseltine has recently talked about the UK’s need for closer ties with Europe on issues such as defence and the economy:
“We can’t defend ourselves alone. We can’t control immigration alone. We can’t deal with the climate crisis alone. We can’t regenerate our economy alone. So not to talk about the absolutely fundamental relationship [with the EU] is fundamentally dishonest.
“Having left, we have deteriorated our situation. The only way to create the advantages that the election should be about is in a closer relationship with Europe.”
Cecilia Jastrzembska, president of Young European Movement, said:
“The UK’s withdrawal from the European Union has had a devastating impact on opportunities for young people, particularly our withdrawal from the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme. Young Brits will not stand by while their futures are on the line.
“The silence on the UK-EU relationship must be broken and cooperation between us agreed sensibly and in good faith. YEM UK looks forward to a new government that will meaningfully strengthen relations with our European neighbours.”
So far, the silence on the problems caused by Brexit has been deafening, on the economy, opportunities for young people, its contributions to the cost-of-living crisis and more. But the evidence shows that voters want Britain’s future relationship with the EU back in the debate in the run up to 4 July.
Brexit is back in the room
Farage has pledged to be a “bloody nuisance” in this election campaign. If there is any gilded thread to be drawn from this, it is that these, and other issues, stemming from an event that he instigated will be firmly back on the agenda. If political parties are to be honest, as Lord Heseltine implores, then they will need to admit that Brexit has caused wanton damage at every conceivable stratum of British society.
The first step in addressing a problem is in acknowledging its existence, then, if it is defined precisely and understood well, it is half-solved. The stakes have just been raised – as far as this election is concerned, Brexit is back in the room.
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