Downing Street has insisted the government is committed to “sticking to our red lines”, after Wes Streeting appeared to endorse calls for a bespoke UK-EU customs union.
The health secretary seemed to break ranks with the prime minister in an interview, where he called for a “deeper trading relationship with the EU”, and suggested this would boost economic growth.
Under such an arrangement, the UK would get access to tariff-free trade with the bloc, while having to accept common standards for traded goods.
Speaking to The Observer on Sunday, Mr Streeting ruled out a return to the single market, and thereby freedom of movement. But he appeared to leave the door open to the UK joining a customs union.
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He told the newspaper: “The best way for us to get more growth into our economy is a deeper trading relationship with the EU.
“The reason why leaving the EU hit us so hard as a country is because of the enormous economic benefits that came with being in the single market and the customs union. This is a country and a government that wants a closer trading relationship with Europe.
“The challenge is any economic partnership we have can’t lead to a return to freedom of movement.”
Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto set out three so-called “red lines” regarding the EU. It stated: “There will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.”
Downing Street has insisted that this position remains, despite the calls for closer relations from Mr Streeting.
Speaking to journalists on Monday morning, a spokesperson for the PM said: “We all have been very open about the need to reset our relationship with the EU, and strengthen that relationship while sticking to our red lines for the long term.”
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Mr Streeting remarks have been seized on by the Conservatives, who accused him of “political pitch-making”.
A Tory spokesperson said: “Instead of focusing on running the health service, Wes Streeting is busy courting left-wing, pro-EU Labour Party members – now even floating the idea of dragging Britain back into the EU’s customs union.”
Meanwhile, Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said: “Starmer’s so-called ‘reset’ deal was already a shameful betrayal of what people voted for in 2016.
“Now we’ve heard it straight from the horse’s mouth, Labour Remoaners like Wes Streeting will not be satisfied until every valuable Brexit freedom is surrendered directly to Brussels.”
The health secretary’s remarks follow growing calls within Labour for the UK to enter into a customs union with the bloc, which is Britain’s biggest trading partner.
Earlier this month, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy appeared to back suggestions that this should happen.
