Labour manifesto: We’ll honour Brexit and be ‘confident’ of status outside EU

Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto has explicitly pledged to keep the UK outside of the European Union – despite pressure from other parties to pursue closer ties.

The party’s policy document declares it will be “confident in our status outside of the EU”, but expressed a desire for the UK to be a “leading nation” on the continent.

It also rules out a return to the European single market and customs union or a reintroduction for freedom of movement.

It comes following a pledge from the Liberal Democrats to rejoin the single market in their general election manifesto, which was released earlier in the week.

READ MORE: GMB calls manifesto ‘vision of hope’ but Unite says ‘not enough’

The Labour manifesto reads: “With Labour, Britain will stay outside of the EU. But to seize the opportunities ahead, we must make Brexit work. We will reset the relationship and seek to deepen ties with our European friends, neighbours and allies.

“That does not mean reopening the divisions of the past. There will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.”

READ MORE: Will the Lib Dem policy to rejoin the EU single market put pressure on Labour?

The UK left the European Union in January 2020 following Boris Johnson’s resounding victory in the 2019 general election – in which Labour had pledged to hold a second Brexit referendum.

The 2024 manifesto also makes clear Labour’s commitment to UK’s status in NATO and support for Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion.

Find out more through our wider 2024 Labour party manifesto coverage so far:

READ MORE: Labour manifesto launch: Live updates, reaction and analysis

READ MORE: Full manifesto costs breakdown – and how tax and borrowing fund it

READ MORE: Key manifesto themes and headline policies in brief

READ MORE: Labour vows to protect green belt despite housebuilding drive

READ MORE: Watch as Starmer heckled by protestor inside with ‘youth deserve better’ banner

READ MORE: GMB calls manifesto ‘vision of hope’ but Unite says ‘not enough’

READ MORE: Manifesto commits to Brexit and being ‘confident’ outside EU

READ MORE: Labour to legislate on New Deal for Working People within 100 days – key policies breakdown 

READ MORE: Labour to give 16-year-olds right to vote

READ MORE: Starmer says ‘manifesto for wealth creation’ will kickstart growth

READ MORE: Dodds: ‘Our manifesto is a fully funded vision, while Tories offer a Christmas tree of gimmicks’

Read more of our 2024 general election coverage here.

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