The Labour Party’s red lines will restrict its ambitions for changing the EU-UK relationship, but if it forms a government it should push Brussels for concessions, particularly on trade in goods. The Labour Party seems likely to form a government after the British general election on July 4th. It will have a full agenda: growth is slow, public services are stretched and housing is in short supply. Brexit has not helped: estimates indicate it has lowered GDP by as much as 5 per cent. Labour will not reverse the damage caused by leaving the EU, and has indeed laid out red lines for the EU-UK relationship that would prevent it from doing so. Even within its red lines, however, Labour could afford to be more ambitious on trade.
Author: Aslak Berg, Research Fellow, Centre for European Reform.
This article is available on the Centre for European Reform website.
