Lammy rejects EU rejoin call as ‘sixth form’ debate amid Labour’s working-class crisis
Labour MPs Jonathan Hinder and David Lammy dismiss Wes Streeting’s proposal as out of touch following recent electoral losses in traditional heartlands.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has firmly rejected Deputy Prime Minister Wes Streeting’s suggestion that the United Kingdom should rejoin the European Union, dismissing the proposal as a “sixth form” debating position. Lammy cautioned that reopening the question of EU membership would distract from the Labour Party’s urgent need to address its recent electoral defeats in working-class constituencies and would ultimately play into the hands of Reform UK.
The intervention comes as the Labour Party faces intensifying internal pressure and leadership speculation. Lammy has previously characterised recent internal party wrangling as a “spectacular own goal” that undermines the government’s ability to govern effectively. He has also firmly rejected calls for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to establish a timetable for his departure, urging the party to move past these divisions rather than engaging in what he described as immature political theatre.
Labour MP Jonathan Hinder reinforced Lammy’s stance, describing Streeting’s position as “staggeringly out of touch” in light of the party’s recent struggles. Hinder highlighted that Labour had suffered significant losses in areas such as Hartlepool, Grimsby, Barnsley, and Wigan, where the party lost ground to Reform UK, formerly known as the Brexit Party. He argued that suggesting a return to the EU debate as a solution ignores the reality of these defeats.
Hinder noted that the public would not forgive weeks of internal debate on the EU or Labour leadership, warning that such distractions would only benefit Reform UK. He described the Labour Party as being in an “existential crisis” regarding its connection to its working-class base, asserting that reconnecting with these voters requires moving beyond the Brexit debate rather than reopening it.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s comments underscore the government’s focus on stabilising its position in traditional heartlands. With Reform UK gaining traction in post-Brexit sentiment and areas of economic dissatisfaction, Lammy and Hinder argue that the Labour Party must prioritise governance and policy delivery over internal ideological disputes.