𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Labour is ending the year on a high. Clearly so petrified of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, the government has resorted to banning (sorry, “postponing”) local and mayoral elections. Labour is now back in civil war territory as its betrayal of Brexit continues apace. Having rejoined the UK to a costly Erasmus student exchange programme – and handed final jurisdiction over who can enter Gibraltar to EU border guards – now the Health Secretary joins the Deputy PM in hinting the UK could rejoin the EU customs union.

In response, Downing Street insisted the government will stick “to our red lines”, but Wes Streeting’s suggestion in a recent interview with The Observer not only suggests growing demands within the government to reverse Brexit but could also hint at the Health Secretary’s rumoured leadership ambitions.

Although Streeting ruled out a return to the single market and freedom of movement, his words directly contradict his party’s 2024 manifesto, which stated categorically “no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.” Given swirling rumours about his and the Home Secretary’s growing leadership ambitions, this may also indicate a pitch to MPs and members in an attempt to dethrone an increasingly unpopular PM.

In response to Streeting’s suggestion, Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said: “Labour Remoaners like Wes Streeting will not be satisfied until every valuable Brexit freedom is surrendered directly to Brussels.”

This government is running scared of Reform yet is at war with itself over who leads Labour and what to do with Brexit. First the government gives away the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, then hands Gibraltar’s borders to the EU.

Seriously, what next?