Coffee House Shots: would Brexit voters really accept the return of freedom of movement?
Dec 16, 2024
auto_awesome
In this engaging conversation, Mark Leonard, Director at the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe, discuss intriguing polling suggesting many Brexit voters might welcome freedom of movement for access to the EU single market. They explore shifting public sentiments towards UK-EU relations and the potential for defense collaboration to enhance ties. With geopolitical tensions rising, they ponder whether a more flexible approach could reshape negotiations and the UK's role in Europe.
A majority of Brexit voters now display a willingness to accept freedom of movement for improved access to the EU single market.
Shifts in public sentiment indicate a growing preference for enhanced UK-EU security collaboration, driven by geopolitical instability and shared threats.
Deep dives
Shifting Attitudes Towards UK-EU Relations
Recent polling indicates a significant shift in attitudes towards UK-EU relations, driven by political changes and global events. A majority of people in both the UK and the EU express a desire for closer ties, particularly regarding economic cooperation, migration, and security. Interestingly, even among Leave voters, there is a willingness to support initiatives like free movement and youth mobility schemes. This reflects a pragmatic approach to post-Brexit relationships, with many citizens favoring collaborative solutions over a return to formal EU membership.
Labour's Strategy and the Depoliticization of Brexit
Labour's approach to EU relations appears focused on maintaining a friendly stance while keeping substantive changes to a minimum. The party is keen to depoliticize Brexit, with initiatives like the product regulation and metrology bill allowing alignment with EU laws without extensive parliamentary debate. This strategy reflects a broader public sentiment that, while not favoring rejoining the EU, supports closer ties for economic and security reasons. The pragmatic outlook hints at a landscape where Brexit is viewed as less contentious, allowing room for cooperative engagement.
Security Cooperation as a New Focus
The podcast highlights a potential shift towards greater security collaboration between the UK and the EU, particularly in light of perceived threats from outside the region. As political instability affects Germany and France, there is an opportunity for the UK to take a leading role in European defense discussions, especially given its significant defense spending. This necessity for enhanced security cooperation may lead to more favorable relations, as many European nations are recognizing the importance of joining forces against common threats. Additionally, public opinion is leaning toward prioritizing European partnerships over the traditional reliance on the US for security matters.
New research last week suggested that a majority of Brexit voters would accept the return of freedom of movement in exchange for access to the EU single market. The poll, conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), found that 54% of Brexit voters – and 68% of all respondents – would accept this. Facing their own changing domestic concerns, how close can the UK and EU governments really get? Could Defence hold the key for collaboration? And how much is this driven by a more volatile geopolitical landscape ahead of Trump’s return as US president?
James Heale speaks to Anand Menon, director of the think-tank UK in a Changing Europe, and Mark Leonard, director at the ECFR.
Produced by 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