Labour should scrap its Brexit red lines because new security threats and US unreliability demand closer EU ties
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/chris-ward-labour-mp. "I wrote Labour’s Brexit red lines. This is why it’s time to scrap them | Chris Ward | The Guardian." November 9, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
Chris Ward, who helped write Labour's Brexit red lines, says they did their job but are now out of date. With Russia, China and cyber threats growing and the US no longer a dependable ally, he argues Britain should build a much closer defence and trade partnership with the EU, and be open to associate membership or rejoining.
Conclusion
Labour should retire its 2020-era Brexit red lines (no rejoining the EU, single market, customs union, or freedom of movement) before the next general election and open the debate on a much deeper UK-EU relationship, at minimum a deep defence and trade partnership and possibly associate membership or rejoining.
Premises
- The red lines were designed in 2020 to close down the Brexit debate and let Labour fight the 2024 election on a pro-EU but non-rejoin platform, and they have served that purpose.
- The economic case for rejoining the EU or single market is essentially unchanged since 2016, so relying on it would repeat old arguments and risk the same result.
- The UK and Europe now face security and cyber threats from Russia, China, Iran and others that are of a different order and immediacy than in 2016.
- The US can no longer be relied on as the UK's primary security partner, as Trump's second term (forcing the UK to assemble 'coalitions of the willing') confirms.
- The central question for foreign policy is therefore how to ensure peace and prosperity amid growing global threats and US retrenchment, and the best answer is a deeper, pooled defence and economic partnership with the EU that makes Europe less dependent on the US.
- Comparable states such as Canada under Mark Carney are seeking 'associate membership' or the deepest possible partnership short of accession, so Britain should be at least as ambitious.
Assumptions
- Red lines that were strategically useful in 2020-2024 lose their value when the strategic environment changes.
- Deeper EU ties are the most effective way to compensate for reduced US reliability, rather than increased domestic spending, other alliances (e.g. NATO, bilateral, Commonwealth) or the EU-reset within current limits.
- Defence and security cooperation with the EU can be achieved only, or most effectively, by relaxing the red lines, rather than within them.
- Trump's second term reflects a durable structural shift in US policy rather than a temporary deviation.
- The political costs of reopening the Brexit debate are outweighed by the security benefits, and the public is receptive.
- Canada's situation and approach are sufficiently analogous to Britain's to serve as a model.