British Voters Urge Labour Party to Distance Itself from US Politics

A Closer Economic Ties to Europe: The Will of British Voters

The British government is under increasing pressure to establish closer economic ties with Europe, five years on from Brexit. A major new poll has shown that voters clearly favor prioritizing more trade with the EU over the US.

According to a survey of almost 15,000 people by YouGov for the Best for Britain thinktank, more people in every constituency in England, Scotland, and Wales back closer arrangements with the EU rather than more transatlantic trade with Washington. Even in Nigel Farage‘s seat of Clacton, more people think the UK is better off trading more with its neighbors on the continent than with the US under Donald Trump.

The findings come as the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has stated that Brexit has harmed the UK economy and that she is determined to claw back some of the lost gross domestic product (GDP) by reducing trade frictions for UK small businesses wherever possible. In one of the clearest statements by a senior government minister on Brexit, Reeves answered yes when asked if she was clear that leaving the EU had damaged the UK’s financial position.

Reeves also enthused about one specific proposal made by the EU’s new trade chief responsible for post-Brexit negotiations, Maroš Šefčovič, who floated the idea of the UK joining the Pan-Euro Mediterranean convention (PEM). The PEM is a set of common rules for sourcing parts and ingredients for use in tariff-free trade. Reeves said that she looks forward to exploring those options with them.

The poll found that 46% of respondents said the EU should be the government’s top priority when it comes to trade, whereas less than half this number (21%) opted for the US. Trade with EU was even stronger among voters who switched from Conservative to Labour at the last election, with two-thirds (66%) thinking the government should prioritize trade with the EU.

The results come just days after Trump was sworn in for the second time as US president, promising to impose hefty tariffs on imports. Any UK trade deal with the US is likely to mean this country having to accept imports of food such as chlorinated chicken and hormone-injected meat that breach current UK and EU regulations.

The Economic Benefits of Closer Trade with Europe

The desire for closer economic ties with Europe was even stronger among voters who voted Labour at the last election, with 66% thinking the government should prioritize trade with the EU. Strong support for prioritizing trade with the EU was also found in the constituencies most heavily targeted by Labour at the last general election.

In Scotland and Wales, which will hold Holyrood and Senedd elections next year, battleground seats such as Stirling and Strathallan, as well as Llanelli, back prioritizing trade with the EU. The findings suggest that the UK government should prioritize trade with the EU over the US, given the significant economic benefits it could bring.

A Better Deal for British Businesses

Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, said: “Trade doesn’t have to be either/or but it’s clear that when it comes to priorities, from Cairnryan to Clacton and Newport to Newcastle, Britain wants a closer relationship with the EU first.” With Trump threatening new tariffs as soon as this week, the government should listen to voters and break down trade barriers with our largest market before pursuing deals elsewhere.

Writing in The Observer, Praful Nargund, a Labour candidate at the last election who is director of the Good Growth Foundation, said: “If we’re serious about fixing our economic stagnation, the EU cannot be sidelined. This problem has always been a political one at its heart. Provided it delivers on people’s priorities, there is a way towards a closer relationship with the EU that is not electorally disastrous – indeed, potentially quite the opposite.”

Marley Morris, an associate director at the Institute for Public Policy Research thinktank and author of several reports on Brexit, said: “As the UK’s closest and most significant trade partner, the EU should be the top priority for the government’s new trade strategy. The current trade deal is not working as it should, with UK businesses facing an array of new barriers to selling goods and services into the EU.”

A Closer Economic Ties to Europe: The Will of British Voters

The findings of this poll suggest that the UK government should prioritize trade with the EU over the US. With Brexit having harmed the UK economy, reducing trade frictions for UK small businesses is crucial for economic growth. By breaking down trade barriers with our largest market, the government can meet its growth ambitions, ease price rises for UK consumers, and give British businesses a fighting chance in an increasingly protectionist world.

The desire for closer economic ties with Europe was even stronger among voters who switched from Conservative to Labour at the last election. Strong support for prioritizing trade with the EU was also found in the constituencies most heavily targeted by Labour at the last general election. The findings suggest that the UK government should prioritize trade with the EU over the US, given the significant economic benefits it could bring.

In conclusion, the poll results suggest that British voters want a closer relationship with Europe. With Brexit having harmed the UK economy, reducing trade frictions for UK small businesses is crucial for economic growth. By breaking down trade barriers with our largest market, the government can meet its growth ambitions, ease price rises for UK consumers, and give British businesses a fighting chance in an increasingly protectionist world.