11 March 2023
The Green Party has reiterated that full membership of the EU remains the best option for the UK and has repeated its pledge to pursue a policy to re-join as soon as the political situation is favourable to do so.
Members at the Party’s Spring conference in Birmingham also agreed that the worst problems resulting from Brexit would be eased by re-joining the customs union, a speedy return to free movement of people between the UK and EU and signing up to a comprehensive agreement with the EU covering the protection of human, animal and plant life.
Welcoming the motion, co-leader Carla Denyer said:
“There’s not a single tangible benefit for the UK as a result of Brexit. It has been all pain and no gain. Every household is on average £1000 poorer [1] than they would have been if the UK had remained in the EU. Meanwhile, the EU Retention Bill threatens to make a bonfire of laws agreed in the EU that protect the environment and human and consumer rights [2].
“It is clear that the UK would be in a better position socially, environmentally and economically if we had maintained our place in the EU. That is why the Green Party is pursuing a policy of re-joining as soon as the political situation is favourable to do so.
“In the meantime, we believe that many of the worst problems created by Brexit would be eased by re-joining the customs union, negotiating the return of free movement of people between the UK and EU and signing up to a comprehensive agreement with the EU covering the protection of human, animal and plant life.
“Young people in particular are losing out. They didn’t vote for Brexit and most feel they are at heart European. Yet they are missing out on opportunities to explore, study and live on the continent. It is therefore vital that the UK continues its participation in the Erasmus+ scheme.
“Labour have thrown in the towel on Brexit. Their refusal to challenge in any serious way the extreme Brexit being pushed by Tory hardliners means only the Green Party is prepared to expose Brexit for the disaster it is and support rejoining the EU when the political circumstances are right.”
Notes
2. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/18/brexit-eu-law-democracy-rishi-sunak
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