In this challenging period, the security of our nation hinges on the urgency of cultivating a constructive relationship with our nearest neighbors. Effectively countering the significant threat posed by Putin necessitates standing shoulder to shoulder with our European allies rather than needlessly provoking tensions. Collaborating closely on crucial issues such as energy security, trade, and aiding Ukrainian refugees is imperative for collective security.
Disunity in the face of Russian aggression is a luxury we cannot afford. Our historical connections with Europe have, for too long, been marred by insignificant disputes and an overly ideological governmental approach. British citizens and small businesses ensnared in bureaucratic red tape are bearing the brunt of this situation, and they rightfully deserve a more effective and collaborative approach.
It is time for a paradigm shift. The Conservative Party’s inflexible approach has not only diminished our global standing but has also strained relationships with our closest neighbors and undermined our economic well-being.
The Conservatives, regrettably, lack the capability to make decisions that would enhance the quality of people’s lives. The Liberal Democrats advocate for a forward-looking approach that benefits Britain by reducing bureaucratic obstacles, lowering business costs, and ultimately improving the standard of living for citizens.
Europe stands as our nearest neighbor and largest trading partner. Merely fine-tuning and making minor adjustments to our trade relationship with Europe will prove insufficient. Such measures will not deliver the stability required to bolster the British economy.
Today, members of the Liberal Democrats have endorsed a comprehensive four-stage roadmap to establish the UK’s future trading relationship with Europe, fostering benefits for British businesses and families. This roadmap begins by recognizing that the ties between the UK and Europe, strained by years of contentious negotiations, must be gradually redefined and rebuilt over time.
The four-stage plan unfolds as follows:
- Taking immediate action to enhance connections with European neighbors, including strengthening educational ties through reforming the government’s Turing scheme.
- Further measures to build confidence and establish robust relationships with Europe, encompassing seeking cooperation agreements with EU agencies, reinstating Erasmus Plus, and working towards a UK-EU agreement on asylum seekers.
- Deepening trade with Europe by negotiating increased access for UK food and animal products to the Single Market, securing agreements on sector-specific work visas, and establishing mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
- Once the trading relationship is strengthened, trust is rebuilt, and friendships are renewed, aspire to place the UK-EU relationship on a more formal and stable footing by seeking to join the Single Market.