Coffee House Shots Brexit's back – and so is Truss
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Dec 5, 2025 Join political writer James Heale and European policy expert Charles Grant as they delve into revived discussions about UK-EU relations, sparked by recent state visits and political maneuvers. Heale sheds light on Labour's potential customs union re-entry, while Grant critiques the limited economic benefits of a reset. They also assess the influence of Brexit's narrative on Reform and how Farage's clout might sway EU negotiations. Plus, don't miss the buzz around Liz Truss launching her new show—will she offer fresh insights?
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Labour Will Opt For Gradual EU Reengagement
- Labour is unlikely to rejoin the customs union soon and will prefer sector-by-sector rapprochement with the EU.
- Keir Starmer faces political constraints and will push pragmatic regulatory fixes rather than a big‑bang customs union return.
Small Fixes Won't Solve Brexit's Economic Hit
- The EU reset so far fixes niche problems but won't move the macroeconomic needle for the UK.
- Rejoining big EU regimes would require accepting dynamic alignment and loss of vote on rules, which is politically costly.
Closer Access Comes With An EU Price Tag
- The EU will charge the UK for single-market access and expect payments for benefits it grants.
- Brussels sees the UK as the party seeking advantage and therefore able to extract a price for closer ties.