Davey: As PM, I'll fight for UK to rejoin single market

Sir Ed Davey has promised to push for Britain to rejoin the European single market and eventually the EU.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

The Liberal Democrat leader said fixing the UK’s broken relationship with Europe will drive down prices in shops and widen opportunities for young people to work throughout the bloc.

Launching his party’s general election manifesto, Sir Ed said Britain “needs to be back at the heart of Europe” and stressed the Lib Dems “are a pro-European party”. But he accused the Conservatives of having “poisoned Britain’s relationship with our nearest neighbours” and “undermined trust in the UK”. “We are being really clear that it is not going to be easy,” the seasoned Lib Dem said.

And, just five years after Jo Swinson led the party’s disastrous 2019 general election campaign on a platform of stopping Brexit, Sir Ed has taken a markedly more moderate stance on Europe. But, in an election in which former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine has slammed the major parties’ refusal to debate the consequences of Brexit, Sir Ed is hoping to win the support of millions of voters who want closer ties with Europe.