𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The UK must draw closer to the booming economies of the Commonwealth, not get back into a sad situationship with Europe. But if Andy Burnham gets his wish, that’s just what will happen, after the PM announced his determination to betray Brexit in his roof-raising conference speech this week. Perhaps he’ll ask Brussels for a few bob for his National Care Service, not that it would cover residential care costs (read the small print!).

Speaking of Europe, the Conservatives botched Brexit, now Labour is set to betray it. Yet in all of this, Burnham is playing with fire. The Red Wall seats he is in direct contention with Reform over are Leave-voting, aspirational and patriotic. Sure, folks there like the NHS and a decent welfare state, but they don’t want open borders, Brussels and touchy-feely policing.

Adding insult to injury, the PM wants to end the triple lock, another favoured policy in the Red Wall. I’d wager pollsters are overestimating Labour’s bounce in these areas right now. Ultimately, the EU is the past (even the Hungarians and Poles have a foot out of the door). The Icelanders wisely rejected the EU in a recent referendum, while the rich Norwegians and Swiss are in no hurry to dive into that sclerotic club.

Far better for Britain to integrate with CANZUK – a union of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK – four states which share a king, language, and legal and political systems.

CANZUK would become the world’s largest polity and third largest economy, with unmatched global defence reach, and complimentary economies (think London’s financial clout married with Aussie and Canadian resources).

In this day and age, physical proximity has never mattered less. It’s cultural closeness which counts. Andy Burnham will rue the day he opened the Brexit can of worms back up, while conning voters with a care service which would, at best, only cover half the costs. When all’s said and done, we need the Commonwealth, not a dying EU.