Labour has the chance to shape the debate on Europe

I’ve often complained in the past that we don’t talk enough about Europe in this country. Our biggest trading partner, the source of millions of British jobs and many of the workplace rights we now take for granted.

I suppose I should have heeded the phrase ‘Be careful what you wish for’. For the last couple of years it seems like Europe is all anyone in the chattering classes wants to talk about, but no one has anything nice to say.

This has been reflected in opinion poll after opinion poll – public support for our membership of the European Union – not exactly resounding to begin with – has plummeted, public trust in Europe has gone the same way and if you believe Tory backbenchers they have to barricade their constituency offices to fend off the hoardes of constituents immolating themselves outside to demand an immediate referendum on our future in Europe.

Is all that about to change? I don’t normally pay any attention to opinion polls, which are as changeable as the wind, but I saw one so astonishing this week that I did a comedy doubletake that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Bugs Bunny – support for our membership of the EU has gone up!

Pick your jaw up off the floor, it’s true. The latest YouGov poll for the Sunday Times shows support for Britain’s membership of the EU up 10% to 40% since the end of November last year, with just 34% opting to leave – down 17% in the same period. That’s the first time more have opted in than out since the Tories came to power in 2010.

What makes these numbers so interesting is a dramatic upward shift in the support of Labour voters for EU membership, which Peter Kellner attributes to the positive stance taken by Ed Miliband and Douglas Alexander and the high profile intervention of Obama. I think it is undeniable that as the pro-European lobby – within the Labour Party and outside the political sphere in the world of business and beyond – finally starts to find its voice and lay out the benefits of our membership – and the price of departure – the minds of the public begin to sharpen.

This is very good news indeed for the pro-European majority in the Labour Party, as it backs up the argument that we don’t need to spout anti-EU rhetoric to boost our poll numbers. That isn’t to say we don’t need to argue for reform – and the numbers show a clear majority still in support of some form of renegotiation – but now people are starting to listen we have the chance to argue for the right reforms – reforms that will boost jobs and growth, tackle youth unemployment, expand the single market and protect workers rights.

Once again Ed Miliband has the chance to lead and shape the debate on an issue crucial to the national interest. He must continue to argue for a One Nation Britain at the heart of Europe.