Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna is speaking at the CBI dinner this evening – and he’s taken the opportunity to have a swipe at the Tories and UKIP over Europe – labelling their tactics “sulky victimhood and obstruction”:
“Britain succeeds when it looks outwards and to the future, not inwards and to the past. Our success has come not by looking backwards or by being closed to new ideas – but from being an open, self-confident nation, believing we can compete with the best in the world and knowing that our best days lie ahead.
“Britain is best when it leads. Not just in Europe, but leading Europe. Sulky victimhood and obstruction – seeing problems not opportunities – are bad tactics, worse strategy and not in keeping with our history. Britain should be leading reform to get the EU economy moving, to complete the single market, and as a platform for leadership in the world. That’s the truth, that is what is at stake for Britain, and that is why we are fighting so hard to win this election.”
Labour’s pro-European position is seen by many within the party as one of Labour’s biggest selling points to business – and Umunna is not only Labour’s business voices, but also one of the most vocally pro-European.
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