Don't rule out EU customs union, TUC boss tells Starmer

"The leader of the Trades Union Congress has called for "the closest possible economic and political relationship with the European Union". The UK's most senior trade unionist, Paul Nowak, told the BBC that he believed this would be "essential" to boost economic growth and warned that faith in mainstream politics could "drain away" unless living standards improved. Nowak urged the PM not to rule out a customs union with the EU, which he argued would lower barriers to trade with the UK's biggest market."

"Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants to "reset" relations with Brussels but has ruled out rejoining the EU's single market and customs union. The prime minister fears that recent deals with the US and India would be scrapped if the UK rejoined. Labour's manifesto ruled out signing up to the existing EU custom union. Recently, senior cabinet ministers such as Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy have danced along the edges of those red lines, bemoaning what they see as the economic damage of Brexit and extolling the virtues of closer relations."

"Earlier this month, 13 Labour MPs backed a Liberal Democrat bill requiring the government to begin negotiations on joining a bespoke customs union with the EU. The Conservatives and Reform UK oppose rejoining a customs union, and say it would undermine what they see as the benefits of Brexit. A customs union would eliminate tariffs or taxes on goods between the UK and the EU, reducing bureaucracy. But critics point out that it would also severely curtail the UK's ability to strike bespoke global trade deals, as the EU would place a common tariff on all goods from outside the customs union area and would expect the UK to conform to common standards."

The Trades Union Congress advocates the closest possible economic and political relationship with the EU and urges consideration of a customs union to lower trade barriers with the UK's biggest market. The proposal is framed as essential to boost economic growth and arrest declining faith in mainstream politics by improving living standards. Labour leadership rejects rejoining the single market and customs union, citing risks to recent trade deals, though some ministers and a group of MPs seek a bespoke customs arrangement. Supporters highlight tariff and bureaucracy reductions; critics warn of constraints on independent global trade deals and regulatory alignment.

Read at www.bbc.com