UK Elections: Manifestoes launched, what do Labour, Conservatives say about Europe?

3 months ago 15

The UK’s centre-left Labour Party launched its manifesto today, 13 June, under the single-word slogan of “change”, with their 20-point lead suggesting they will be the next government, continuity seems the more appropriate word for how Britain’s main parties view UK-EU relations.

When comparing the 2024 manifestoes of Labour and the Conservative parties, with those in 2019, Europe has dropped off the table. The Labour Party in both years referenced the UK’s relations with the EU less than the Conservatives. In 2019 this made sense as former prime minister Boris Johnson campaigned to “Get Brexit Done” while Labour’s leader Jeremy Corbyn, maintained an ambiguous position on the EU, out of step with the majority of his party members.

In 2024, Labour’s silence on Europe is deafening. The UK’s relationship with the EU was not mentioned at all by the current leader, Keir Starmer, in his manifesto launch speech.

This contrasted with Conservative leader Rishi Sunak, announcing intentions to derive supposed benefits from Brexit, albeit only occasionally.

The Conservative manifesto gives little to EU topics, especially when compared to 2019, but there are several references to EU laws Sunak would like to change. The opposition manifesto by comparison, has put the EU on the agenda almost as low as possible: two-and-a-half paragraphs on page 115 in a chapter called “Britain reconnected.” This is significant as Sunak claims to be running a continuity campaign, whereas Starmer is aiming to break with the past.

So, what will they do vis-à-vis Europe?

On immigration, the issue which drove Brexit, the Conservatives want to deport illegal arrivals to Rwanda, in the hope it deters future arrivals. But the Labour manifesto brands the plan a “gimmick”, that “has already cost hundreds of millions of pounds.”

Their flagship migration policy is third in their top six priorities: the “launch [of] a new Border Security Command with hundreds of specialist investigators and use [of] counter-terror powers to smash the criminal boat gangs.”

The migration policy exposes policy differences on international law. Sunak repeatedly said at Tuesday’s launch “forced to choose between our security and the jurisdiction of a foreign court, including the ECHR, we will always choose our security,” something also printed in the manifesto. Labour’s manifesto however pledges that “Britain will unequivocally remain a member of the European Convention on Human Rights.”

Labour also says it will “tear down unnecessary barriers to trade,” hoping to reach a veterinary agreement to limit border checks; secure mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and “help our touring artists,” the latter Euractiv has previously reported.

However, those seeking anything resembling UK recommitting to European integration will be disappointed. Labour’s manifesto explicitly states “Britain will stay outside of the EU.” There is no space for integration via the backdoor, the manifesto pledges “no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.”

The Conservatives for their part state that “they are committed to the EU Settled Status Scheme and the rights it has guaranteed for EU citizens”, so no further changes expected there.

Cross-party consensus on military spending, Ukraine

The Conservatives are proud of their record on Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion. Boris Johnson was the fifth political leader to visit Kyiv after the Russian invasion on 24 February. Following Prime Ministers of Poland, Slovenia, and Czechia, and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

Britain often led on supplying strategic weapons to Ukraine, from anti-tank rocket launchers at the beginning to ‘Storm Shadow’ long-range missiles as the war progressed, which made it easier for western allies to follow suit.

Support for Ukraine remains undimmed in the party manifesto, with a promise to “guarantee Ukraine the support it needs for the long haul,” and “build international agreement to use immobilised Russian assets to support Ukraine”, which is already being progressed at the ongoing G7 summit.

Labour has a similar narrative on its commitment to Ukraine in its manifesto, adding the sweetener for Kyiv that if elected they “will play a leading role in providing Ukraine with a clear path to NATO membership.”

Elsewhere, the two parties are largely in lockstep on defence. Both pledging to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence. Also pledging to maintain ‘Trident’, the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

The biggest point of difference in this area is the Conservatives’ proposal to bring in place a form of military conscription for 18-year olds via passage of a ‘National Service Act’. Labour has not proposed such a policy, in his manifesto speech Starmer said that he was “fed up of politicians lecturing young people about their responsibility to the country when they [the politicians] don’t take responsibility for the future.”

The UK election will take place 4 July 2024. You can find the parties’ manifestoes below.

[Edited by Rajnish Singh]