In a sharp critique published in The Telegraph, Lord Frost has warned that Labour’s plans for a “reset” with the European Union could undo much of what Brexit achieved, effectively edging the UK back towards EU membership.
While Keir Starmer has promised closer ties with the EU, Frost argues this strategy risks leaving Britain at a disadvantage, with Labour “taken to the cleaners” in negotiations.
Frost criticises Labour’s lack of transparency regarding its objectives for renegotiating the UK’s relationship with the EU. Unlike the detailed 30-page document he and Boris Johnson published in 2020, Starmer’s Labour has provided little information about its goals. Frost observes that much of what is known about the reset comes not from Labour but from a leaked EU document approved by EU ministers.
The EU paper, according to Frost, sets clear preconditions for any negotiation, including stricter adherence to the Windsor Framework, maintaining EU fishing rights in UK waters, and concessions on food and veterinary trade rules. Frost claims these demands suggest Labour is on track to repeat the “disastrous negotiating tactics” seen under Theresa May.
EU Leverage and Labour Weakness
Frost describes the EU as adept at applying pressure, including court cases, media campaigns, and setting rigid preconditions for talks. He accuses Labour of being “naive bumblers” who lack a coherent vision and could be easily outmaneuvered.
He predicts Labour will end up conceding fishing rights, accepting EU law and European Court of Justice jurisdiction over certain areas, aligning foreign policy with the EU, and even agreeing to EU asylum provisions — all while gaining little in return. Frost argues Labour’s main aim is “to be liked by the Euro-elites,” rather than defending British interests.
Kemi Badenoch’s Role in Preserving Brexit
While acknowledging Labour’s large majority, Frost believes the Conservative Party can still act as a strong opposition. He outlines three steps for Kemi Badenoch, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, to take in defence of Brexit:
- Demand Transparency from Labour: Frost calls on Badenoch to press Starmer on whether he will accept the EU’s preconditions. If Starmer agrees, it would signal his willingness to give away key aspects of sovereignty.
- Warn the EU of Reversals: The Conservatives should make it clear that any deals Labour strikes with the EU will be undone if the Tories return to power. Frost argues this would deter the EU from pushing for far-reaching concessions, knowing they could be short-lived.
- Commit to “Finishing the Brexit Job”: Frost urges the Conservative Party to take a stronger stance on sovereignty by scrapping the Windsor Framework, ending the Withdrawal Agreement, and removing European Court of Human Rights influence over UK policies.
A Test of the Conservative Party’s Resolve
For Frost, the Conservative Party must demonstrate its commitment to national sovereignty and democracy. Failure to do so, he warns, would lead to questions about the party’s purpose.
He concludes that defending Brexit and rejecting Labour’s concessions to the EU are not just political imperatives but crucial for ensuring the UK’s independence and prosperity in the long term.
Frost’s Call to Action
Lord Frost’s article is both a critique of Labour’s approach to the EU and a rallying cry for the Conservative Party to stand firm on Brexit principles. He paints Labour’s reset as a thinly veiled step towards reintegration with the EU, driven by ideology rather than pragmatism.
By invoking the risk of concessions on fishing rights, trade rules, and Northern Ireland, Frost highlights the potential economic and political costs of Labour’s strategy. His proposals for Badenoch reflect a desire to keep Brexit alive as a defining Conservative policy, positioning sovereignty as the central issue for the party moving forward.
The article underscores the high stakes of Labour’s EU reset and the political divide it may deepen between those advocating closer ties with Europe and those defending Brexit’s legacy.
Read Lord Frost’s full article in the Telegraph here.
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Main Photo: Lord Frost. Photo: Open Government Licence v3.0
