20 September 2023 , 15:00
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Britain's security would be bolstered by a formal defence pact with Brussels, a top Shadow Cabinet Minister has exclusively told the Mirror. John Healey believes there are opportunities for the UK to “work much more closely with the EU”.
The Shadow Defence Secretary said: “It’s part of that recognition that the UK has burnt bridges and damaged relationships - sometimes deliberately so - in the Brexit process and that to make Brexit work and for Britain to be better protected ourselves, but also contribute what we can to wider defence and security in Europe, it makes sense for the EU and UK to cooperate and potentially strike some sort of formal agreement.
“In many ways what we would look to do as a Labour Government is part of a reset of UK relations with Europe.” He vowed to “put back on the table” the chance to sign a deal with the bloc on security and defence. “That was taken off the table by Boris Johnson in his negotiations for the TCA (Trade and Cooperation Agreement),” said the Labour frontbencher.
The Mirror's Deputy Political Editor Ben Glaze interviewed Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington DCBut he denied dangling the carrot of a security deal between the EU and Britain was aimed at forcing the bloc to ease trade rules imposed after the UK quit the union. “I don’t see this as a leverage to Britain’s advantage in trade negotiations,” Mr Healey told the Mirror on a visit to Washington DC. “The case for our mutual security being stronger if we are cooperating closer together - and potentially we can do that in a structured and agreed way through a formal pact or agreement - is so strong it’s self-contained. It’s better dealt with, discussed and developed in that way, than getting tied up with the areas of review and renegotiation that are there in the TCA.”
Addressing the American Enterprise Institute during his week-long trip to the US capital, he revealed Labour was “starting to open up early discussions about greater cooperation and, potentially, a formal pact between the UK and European Union on defence and security”. The admission comes after party leader Keir Starmer sparked claims he was trying to reopen the Brexit deal and even that he wants to march Britain back into the bloc - a claim consistently denied by Labour’s hierarchy.
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But Mr Healey said that should not rule out tighter links in some areas. “Emphatically, Brexit’s done," he insisted. "Labour, if we were in government, will not rejoin the European Union, the single market or the customs union. But in Britain’s interests, long-term and our security interests, are best served by rebuilding relationships and working with European allies - that includes the EU in certain defined areas.”
Voters 'want change' as general election looms
Weary electors believe it is “time for a change” as polls suggest Labour is heading for government, Mr Healey said.
“My first priority is the UK elections and our bid to regain the confidence of the public so we get into government,” added the MP for Wentworth and Dearne, South Yorks. “I’ve been through too many elections to allow complacency to creep in and Keir Starmer stamps on that in the Shadow Cabinet, quite rightly. But on the street at home in South Yorkshire, there is a sentiment now that it’s time for a change.
“Our task between now and the election as the Labour leadership is to give people the confidence that if they are willing to put us into government that we’ll do what’s required to manage the economy, to look after the public finances and to keep the country safe.”
Mr Healey was first elected to Parliament in 1997 (Lenin Nolly/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)Mr Healey was first elected in Labour’s 1997 landslide win and served as Housing Minister and a Treasury Minister. But he has languished on the opposition benches for the last 13 years. “I’ve been around too long, I've been nine years in government, including around the Cabinet table; I am conscious that in many ways the challenges are greater now than they were in ‘97,” he said.
“I’ve been in every Shadow Cabinet since 2010 - the one thing that has kept me going is the determination to see Labour back in government, that’s the number one priority. When Keir Starmer took over as leader many thought that Labour was a spent force, many argued that Labour recovery would take a long time.
"Keir Starmer has set out to do in one Parliament what (Neil) Kinnock, (John) Smith, (Tony) Blair did over 14 years up to ‘97. To be in the position we are now is a remarkable reflection and achievement on the leadership he’s offered.”
Sign of how much Labour has moved on from Jeremy Corbyn
A Labour frontbencher being welcomed to the Pentagon and White House would have been unthinkable just four years ago under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
But this week, Mr Healey has entered the heart of Joe Biden’s administration, as well as holding meetings with Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill. It is a sign of how seriously US officials and politicians are taking the possibility of a Labour Government next year.
“There are relationships to build and I think people are looking at Keir Starmer and saying, ‘Look, he’s changed the Labour Party, (Jeremy) Corbyn is no longer a Labour member, he won’t be standing for Labour at the next election,” he said. “Labour has been unshakeable in its support for NATO and Ukraine; there will be an election, Labour may form a government - they want to talk to us.” He added: “I’m pleased that the Republican figures I am meeting as well want to talk to us because I see that as a sign of the strength of the UK-US relationship, not just a reflection on the strength of the UK Labour Party’s standing in the polls.”
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Tory losers could help write Labour's defence plan in office
Defeated Conservatives could be drafted in to help write Labour’s defence plan in government. Labour would order a strategic defence and security review within its first year back in power.
The Shadow Defence Secretary believes input from opposition frontbenchers could be useful in building support for projects and decisions that may span more than one government. Pointing to how Labour’s then Defence Secretary George Robertson constructed support for his 1998 review, Mr Healey said: “One of the hallmarks of that - and it’s regarded by many as a gold standard of doing it - was that he opened very widely to views within the military, within industry and views of other political parties.
“What he did was build into the decisions and commitments in that review some of the consensus required to see them through. That for me is a good model that successors would do well to try and follow.” Mr Healey said the fact so much defence information was classified made it impossible to make future spending commitments.
“Having seen in the last year the Tories crash the economy, drive up inflation and interest rates and prices too, we simply don’t know how bad or what the situation will be post-election,” he said. “One of the unique things about the defence brief, unlike health or housing or Treasury even, is that most of the information that you need about spend, costs, threats, capabilities we have, the gaps, is classified. You don’t get access to that unless you get into government, so making those hard calls about funding commitments from opposition on defence is not possible.”
Healey ready for one of the top roles in government
With a general election widely expected next October, Mr Healey could be Defence Secretary in just 13 months.
The role is one of the gravest in government, with the holder of the post - along with the Prime Minister - responsible for sending troops into harm’s way and, ultimately, having to decide if and when to fire Britain’s Trident nuclear missiles. Asked by the Mirror if he was ready for that, he replied simply: “Yes.”
He went on: “The more you deal with, as I am privileged to do now, people in the military, those in the wider defence world, the more you see the very best of what we’ve got in Britain. The opportunity to serve as a political leader alongside them would be a huge honour as well as a responsibility.”
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