Katy Balls, a prominent political commentator, and Sophia Gaston, head of foreign policy at Policy Exchange, dive into Keir Starmer's recent diplomatic efforts in Europe. They discuss the Labour Party's strategy to rebuild ties with the EU post-Brexit while navigating public sentiment and political realities. The conversation highlights the complexities of balancing domestic and foreign policy, the shifting defense landscape in Europe, and the potential for enhanced UK-Germany cooperation in security matters.
Labour's strategic push for a treaty with Germany aims to enhance European relations while navigating the complexities of Brexit sentiment.
The potential for increased defense cooperation reflects the need for a united response to evolving security threats in Europe.
Deep dives
Labour's Push for Closer European Ties
The Labour Party is actively seeking to strengthen its relationships with European partners, particularly through a newly proposed treaty with Germany. This initiative is framed as a strategic response to global shifts in security dynamics, especially regarding America's focus on issues beyond Europe. By fostering closer ties, Labour aims to mitigate some of the negative sentiment stemming from Brexit while reinforcing that European nations share common goals. As part of this strategy, Labour's leadership is emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation in tackling challenges such as energy security and irregular migration.
Navigating Brexit Challenges
Labour faces significant domestic challenges in advancing its pro-European agenda without reigniting the divisive Brexit debate. The party's leadership is keenly aware of the political risk involved in moving too quickly towards closer EU ties, as previous efforts have led to severe pushback from voters. Despite strong public support for certain pro-European measures, Labour must tread carefully to maintain party cohesion and public favor. The leadership is focusing on low-hanging fruit opportunities to enhance relations while avoiding issues that might be perceived as reversing Brexit.
Defence Cooperation and Economic Integration
The discussions between Labour and German leaders also highlight the potential for enhanced defense cooperation, particularly in light of the evolving security landscape post-Ukraine invasion. The UK possesses a robust defense industry that can significantly contribute to European security efforts, and there is mutual interest in fostering this integration. British defense firms face barriers in participating within the EU's defense frameworks, which both sides acknowledge as unsustainable given current geopolitical exigencies. Strengthening bilateral ties with Germany could pave the way for improved cooperation in broader EU defense initiatives, benefiting both nations in military modernization and strategic alignment.
Keir Starmer has been in Germany today visiting Chancellor Olaf Scholz, before heading to Paris to meet President Macron. This is part of his plan to 'reset' relations with Europe - but how close does he want to get to the EU? And, given Brexit wounds are still raw, what's achievable?
James Heale is joined by Katy Balls and Sophia Gaston, head of the foreign policy unit at Policy Exchange to discuss.
Produced by Megan McElroy and Patrick Gibbons.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode