David Miliband has said that Britain needs a “national consensus” on rejoining the European Union. This comes after it was revealed that the UK government proposed creating a single market for goods with the EU.
The former foreign secretary, who now leads the International Rescue Committee, said the UK needs a much stronger reset of its relationship with the EU than the government currently plans.
The UK pitched a single market for goods with the EU to strengthen trade ties.
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Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme about the Guardian’s report, Miliband said he is “absolutely convinced” that the UK’s security and prosperity depend on having a deep, strong, and institutionalised relationship with the rest of Europe.
“When the government says it wants to reset relations with Europe, I think that’s good. But when I look at the reset so far—only worth £9 billion by 2040, and I remember Britain is a £3 trillion economy—I have to say no, we need a much bigger reset.”
When asked if he would support rejoining the EU, he said: “We need to build a national consensus on our position with the European Union. I’m happy with that as a long-term goal. I want a strong institutional relationship with the EU, but I know the deal we had until 2016 is no longer available. We won’t be able to get that deal again.”
He added that the EU is changing significantly, with Ukraine becoming more important. “The big issue for Brussels today isn’t Britain joining—it’s Ukraine joining. They’re talking about associate membership for Ukraine and different tiers of membership.”
On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote to EU leaders, calling a German proposal for Ukraine to become an “associate” member “unfair” because it would leave Kyiv without a voice in the bloc. The proposal, from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, would let Ukraine take part in EU meetings and institutions without voting, as a step toward full membership.
When asked about the Labour leadership challenge, where his brother Ed Miliband could play a key role, he said he is more focused on government action than leadership.
“Britain is in the middle of a global storm. The global order is being torn apart. Our economy is being transformed by new technology. Our welfare system needs to shift from focusing on older people to investing in younger people—a million people aged 16 to 24 are not in education or training,” he said.
“We need a big debate in this country about how to create wealth, share it fairly, and reinvent how government works. If we spend all our time talking about who, not what, we’ll miss the point. The ‘what’ questions are absolutely key.”
When asked if he thinks Labour needs a new leader and the country needs a new prime minister, he said: “When the world changes, we have to change. And in the two years since the general election, the world has changed fundamentally.”
Mike Galsworthy, chair of European Movement UK, said the government needs to have more open conversations with businesses and the public about the UK’s relationship with Europe and the rest of the world.
He said joining the single market would be “economically helpful,” but wouldn’t answer the question for the British public about where the UK is headed as a nation.
“We want to be full team players,” he said. “The conversation needs to feel democratic, open, and constructive. If you don’t do that, the public will keep feeling like they don’t have much say.”No agency in the whole deal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about David Milibands call for a national consensus on rejoining the EU written in a natural conversational tone
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Who is David Miliband and why does his opinion matter
David Miliband is a former UK Foreign Secretary and a senior figure in the Labour Party He now runs the International Rescue Committee While hes not currently an MP hes a wellknown voice in British politics so his comments get attention
2 What does he mean by a national consensus
He means the UK needs a broad crossparty agreementnot just a political debateabout whether its worth trying to rejoin the European Union Its about finding common ground before making any big moves
3 Is the UK definitely going to rejoin the EU
No This is just an idea being floated Rejoining would require a huge political shift a new referendum and the agreement of all EU member states Its not happening anytime soon
4 Why is he saying this now
He believes the current relationship with the EU isnt working well for the UKs economy or security He thinks the country should stop arguing about Brexit and start having a calm honest conversation about the future
5 Whats the difference between rejoining and having a closer relationship
Rejoining means becoming a full EU member again with all the rights and obligations A closer relationship could mean things like a better trade deal or security pact without full membership
IntermediateLevel Questions
6 What are the main arguments for trying to rejoin
Supporters say it would boost trade make it easier for young people to work and live in Europe and restore the UKs influence on global issues like climate change and defense
7 What are the main arguments against it
Opponents say it would ignore the 2016 referendum result bring back free movement and force the UK to accept EU rules it no longer has a say in making
8 How would a national consensus actually be built
Miliband suggests it would involve open public debates cross
