Culture secretary says Streeting's call for UK to rejoin EU is odd'

"I actually think this is just a bit odd. I listened to what Wes had to say very carefully yesterday, and I know that he's got a strong view about this, and always has had, that we shouldn't have left the European Union. Frankly, that's one that I share. I campaigned for remain, I think it [Brexit] was a mistake, and I think the Brexit deal has been a real problem for us. But I don't really understand why the sudden focus on Europe."

"We're already, as a government, trying to repair in a pragmatic way the needless damage that was done by that poor Brexit deal to people's living standards in towns like mine, without reopening the circular arguments that we ended up in as a country."

"In 2026, the British people increasingly see that in a dangerous world we must club together, both to rebuild our economy and trade, and improve our defence against the shared threat"

The UK culture secretary dismissed calls for Britain to re-enter the European Union as odd. She criticized former cabinet colleague Wes Streeting for risking a renewed debate after the Brexit referendum settled the issue a decade ago. She said she campaigned for remain and views Brexit as a mistake, while also arguing that the government should focus on repairing damage from the Brexit deal to living standards. The EU question is expected to gain prominence in the Makerfield byelection and the Labour leadership contest that may follow. Streeting said that by 2026 people increasingly see the need to work together to rebuild the economy, trade, and strengthen defence against shared threats.

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