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If Donald Trump wins the U.S. presidential election, Britain will need to seek closer ties with the European Union, Conservative Party leaders who are calling for a easing of the Withdrawal Agreement have said.
Sir David Lidington, former de facto deputy prime minister in Theresa May’s government, said: I Presidential candidates are taking an increasingly “aggressive” approach to the “America First” policy, which will likely increase pressure on Britain to strengthen ties with other close allies.
The former minister also said the Conservatives supported some of Labour’s policies, such as a new veterinary agreement with the EU to ease mutual relations with Keir Starmer, who called for a softer Brexit deal. He argued that it would be a “strategic mistake” to oppose the Lord’s move. -Border trade.
The European Conservative Forum (CEF), led by Mr Lidington and Conservative MP Stephen Hammond, will also support the movement of workers to the EU, align with Brussels on some foreign and defense policies, and strike a deal to ease the burden on musicians. and many other measures. and other artists touring Europe.
It is based on interviews with more than 40 companies, business leaders and experts, including the CBI, National Farmers’ Union, British Chambers of Commerce and the Institute of Directors, on how to boost growth and trade.
Their report supports Labor’s calls for the hard Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) signed by Boris Jonosson to be improved for review in 2025/26, and It represents a resurgence of debate within the Conservative Party, which had been largely successful in the Retired from the company in 2019.
Mr Liddington said Rishi Sunak’s Windsor Framework Agreement for Northern Ireland had restored trust with European partners and that the Conservatives were now in a “more calm place” on Brexit, saying they were “taking a hard-line approach and to some extent He explained that this showed that he may be willing to make sacrifices. It gives us conceptual sovereignty in exchange for something that serves our national economic interests. ”
Liddington further said that the Ukraine war had “shaken people in London and across Europe to the realization that cooperation is more important than the details of trade deals”, while Brexit hardliners on both sides are no longer the main He is no longer a political player, he said, explaining why. Restart discussions within the party.
“The people who spearheaded some very painful and sometimes acrimonious negotiations have left.
“Boris Johnson has left Parliament, Michel Barnier is no longer a member of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen has replaced Jean-Claude Juncker. It feels like I have a fresh perspective.”
Mr Lidington also warned the Conservatives not to oppose Mr Starmer’s push for closer ties with the EU if Labor wins the next election, as expected, as polls show the public views Brexit as harmful. He emphasized that the majority of Conservative voters (about a fifth in 2019) supported Remain.
He said: “It would be a strategic mistake for the Conservative Party to try to define itself as the Brexit party by another name, especially since no one seriously believes that re-joining the EU will happen in the foreseeable future. That’s because they haven’t.”
Mr Liddington and Mr Hammond both said that global instability had also increased the need for closer ties with the EU.
Asked whether President Trump would strengthen the case for closer ties with the EU, Lidington said: “I think it will.”
He added: “Everyone will be hopeful that with President Trump in office we will continue to have a close working relationship, and I think everyone will be hopeful that with President Trump in office we will continue to have a close working relationship, and I think everyone will be looking forward to continued close cooperation, not just from Mr Rishi, but from almost every European leader. “We will hear of a determination to cooperate, and that is what we must do.” This is the correct attitude for European democratic leaders to take.
“But Donald Trump is already speaking more aggressively about the need to put America’s interests first, and certainly he has expressed concerns about NATO and Article 5 guarantees to European political and defense leaders.” It seems to me that we should expect that.” Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”
“I think it’s still the case that even if the US guarantees to NATO and Article 5 remain absolutely strong, their focus is increasingly on China and the Indo-Pacific rather than Europe and Africa. So , I think Americans would expect him from Europeans to not only increase defense spending (which I think is perfectly acceptable), but also embrace better leadership. ”