‘We're all pro-Europeans now': Rudd seeks to rebuild Tory-Europe relations
The former home secretary is one of the driving forces behind a new informal Conservative European Affairs Council (CEAC) that aims to encourage pro-European Tories and help the party talk to Europe.
And with US President Donald Trump stepping back from European defence and Russia continuing to threaten the continent, she sees an even stronger case for improving Conservative relations with Europe.
In an interview with the PA news agency, she said: 'I would say that now, under the current international circumstances, we're all pro-Europeans.'
But the former Remain campaigner, who resigned from Boris Johnson's cabinet over his handling of Brexit, insisted she was not looking to re-run the Brexit referendum.
She said: 'Former Remainers like myself are not campaigning to rejoin, we are not campaigning for another vote.
'All that is finished, it's in the past, and I think it's quite important to say that that's all in the past.
'What we want now is what's the best relationship within the Conservative Party to position ourselves for the future, for a future Conservative government facing towards Europe.'
Instead, the CEAC will look to engage with all of Europe, not just the EU, to improve the party's 'understanding of what is happening in individual European countries, in the EU and outside of it', according to Conservative councillor Max Austin, who is the group's co-convenor alongside Ms Rudd.
Bringing together other Conservative Party groups, it will also look to build relationships with other centre-right parties in Europe to learn how to appeal to younger voters and take on more populist parties.
'It's trying to show the Conservative Party is not one of those nationalist parties. It's outward-looking, and it's outward-looking towards what's on its doorstep, as well as beyond,' Ms Rudd added.
It is on defence and security that Ms Rudd suggested there could be an opportunity for more engagement between Conservatives and Europe, saying the party 'must not be left behind' as Sir Keir Starmer 'changed the agenda' and put together the 'coalition of the willing' on Ukraine.
She said: 'We have to be more assertive about wanting to lead Europe on the defence side, and that's exactly what Keir has done.
'And most people, unless they're really committed against Labour, but most people who are sort of middle-of-the-road Conservatives are saying 'Gosh, he's doing quite well, Keir Starmer, on that side'.
'And it seems in a moment of crisis, like Europe is in at the moment, the combination of Trump stepping back and the Russians leaning even further into Ukraine, that's where the UK should be, and we need to be able to say that we are pro-European from that point of view.'
It is a point of view that many in the Conservative Party may be receptive to, given the interest already shown in the CEAC from a cross-section of the party.
The group's formation was formally announced at a reception hosted by the Irish embassy last month, addressed by shadow minister Mark Garnier and attended by shadow cabinet member Andrew Bowie and former deputy prime minister Baroness Therese Coffey along with representatives from Kemi Badenoch's office and former Vote Leave campaigners.
Ms Rudd said she was 'slightly surprised' that pro-Brexit campaigners had attended the event, but added that they had said they were 'here because we think you are doing something which is right for us all'.
Mr Austin said: 'We need to disentangle Europe from the EU. Those two concepts have been entwined for far too long.
'But also, you can be a pro-European Brexiteer, and there is no home for that category.
'We've had some members come who are committed in their belief on the future relationship between the EU and the UK, but are still interested and see the importance of understanding what is going on on the broader European continent and with the EU.'
He added: 'It's not about people being right or wrong in the past, we don't expect people to say I was right or wrong on anything.
'It's recognising that the chapter has changed and what we're doing really matters.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
4 minutes ago
- The Guardian
UK condemns Israel for depriving Palestinians of ‘human dignity'
The UK has joined 30 other nations in condemning Israel for depriving Palestinians of 'human dignity' as they issued a call for an immediate end to the war in Gaza. David Lammy, the UK foreign secretary, joined ministers from countries including Australia, Canada and France to urge the Israeli government to lift restrictions on the flow of aid, arguing that the suffering of civilians had 'reached new depths'. They also described proposals from the Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, to move 600,000 Palestinians to a so-called 'humanitarian city' in Rafah, an area that has been heavily damaged by Israeli bombs, as 'completely unacceptable'. At the Commons liaison committee, the prime minister, Keir Starmer, said the situation in Gaza was 'intolerable' as he repeated the UK's commitment to recognising a Palestinian state 'at a time most conducive to the prospects of peace' in the region. Israel has launched substantial air raids and a ground operation in Gaza, targeting Deir al-Balah, the main hub for humanitarian efforts in the devastated Palestinian territory, amid warnings of widening starvation. The latest assault comes a day after the highest death toll in 21 months inflicted by the Israeli military on desperate Palestinians seeking food aid, with at least 85 killed in what has become a grim and almost daily slaughter. The UN food agency, the World Food Programme, said the majority of those killed on Sunday had gathered near the border fence with Israel in the hope of getting flour from a UN aid convoy when they were fired on by Israeli tanks and snipers. Starmer said: 'The situation on the ground in Gaza is intolerable on so many levels and we make that absolutely clear in all our exchanges with Israel and with other countries. Whether that's the deaths of those that are queuing for aid, whether it's the plans to force Palestinians to live in certain areas or be excluded from certain areas, they are all intolerable and absolutely wrong in principle.' Starmer has come under pressure from MPs, including Emily Thornberry, who heads the Commons foreign affairs committee, to recognise a Palestinian state as some western countries are due to press ahead with recognition plans this month. In a statement on Monday, the foreign ministers called for Israel to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and to urgently enable the UN and humanitarian NGOs to do their work. After a two-month blockade on most aid entering Gaza that has pushed the territory's 2.1 million residents to the verge of famine, the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has overseen a chaotic, and often deadly, operation. 'The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths,' the foreign ministers said. 'The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity. We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion They said it was 'horrifying' that hundreds of Palestinians had been killed while seeking aid, and that the Israeli government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population was unacceptable. 'We urge the parties and the international community to unite in a common effort to bring this terrible conflict to an end, through an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire. Further bloodshed serves no purpose,' they said. Speaking in the Commons on Monday, Lammy told MPs he 'utterly condemned' the killing of civilians who were seeking to meet their basic needs. 'The Israeli government must answer, what possible military justification can there be for strikes that have killed desperate, starving children?' He criticised Katz's plan to move the entire population of Gaza to Rafah, saying it was a 'cruel vision which must never come to pass' and would be a violation of international humanitarian law. He told MPs there should be a 'viable pathway' to a Palestinian state that would have 'no role' for Hamas, which he said would use it as a 'launch pad' for terrorism.
North Wales Chronicle
6 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Officers considering legal action against Police Scotland over Trump visit plans
The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents 98% of all police officers in Scotland, said the force has already breached health and safety standards in the run up to the visit by the US president. Thousands of officers are expected to be involved in what Police Scotland has described as a 'significant policing operation'. The White House confirmed Mr Trump will visit his golf courses in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire between July 25 and 29. He will meet the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the First Minister John Swinney during his private trip. The visit is likely to result in widespread protests, following similar demonstrations during his last visit to Scotland. David Kennedy, general secretary of the SPF, suggested planning for the visit has already put officers at risk. He said: 'We currently have workforce agreements in place to protect police officers and provide minimum standards of Health and Safety at work. 'Sadly, we have seen these agreements breached in the days leading to the arrival of Potus (President of the United States) and as such we are seeking legal advice regarding potential legal action against the service.' Speaking to STV News, Mr Kennedy said he had 'major concerns' about the plans to police Mr Trump's trip. He told the broadcaster: 'We do not have enough police officers in Scotland. 'Anyone that says we do, I don't know where they get those figures from. 'We know what police officers have to do day in, day out and we need more officers in Scotland. 'When these events come along that puts those officers that are here under so much pressure.' Police Scotland said earlier this month it would seek help from the Scottish and UK Governments over the 'considerable' cost of policing the visit. It has also asked for support from Northern Ireland's police force, the PSNI. There had been speculation the King would host the American leader in Scotland after a meeting was suggested at Balmoral or Dumfries House, in a letter he wrote to Mr Trump in February inviting him to make the state visit. But it is understood that both sides will wait until the president's official state visit later this year. Police Scotland's Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said: 'We are working closely with the Scottish Police Federation to address any concerns they may have.' A spokesperson for the PSNI said: 'There are well established processes for any UK-based police services to request support from other services at times of peak demand. 'These requests are managed via the National Police Co-ordination Centre (NPoCC) and we can confirm that PSNI have received a request to provide mutual aid to Police Scotland which we are currently assessing. 'The decision to provide officers under the mutual aid process will be considered against our own demands, ensuring that we retain the capacity to respond effectively to local issues and maintain our own operational competence.'
The Independent
6 minutes ago
- The Independent
Former Kemi Badenoch ally expelled from Conservative Party
Former Conservative MP Tom Hunt has been expelled from the party after an investigation into a disciplinary matter. The party announced the decision after a long investigation into the former Ipswich MP, who lost his seat in last year's general election. A spokesman for the party said: 'Tom Hunt has been expelled from the Conservative Party following a complaints process. This process is rightly confidential.' However, Mr Hunt has said that he is 'disappointed' about the decision and indicated that he now intends to appeal. He told The Independent: 'I am deeply disappointed by this provisional decision. I have strongly refuted the complaint from the start and continue to do so. I am currently seeking legal advice so it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage. It's a confidential process." During his time as an MP, Mr Hunt was deputy chairman of the influential right-wing Common Sense Group of Tory MPs. In his role, he had pushed for the Rwanda deportation scheme, greater immigration control, leaving the European Convention of Human Rights and a tougher stance on so called culture war issues. His name had been mentioned in speculation over defectors to Nigel Farage's Reform UK, but he had remained loyal to the Tories. He was a key supporter of Kemi Badenoch when she first ran for the party leadership in 2022. At the time he wrote for The Ipswich Star: 'I think she is genuinely courageous. Her delivery at the dispatch box is powerful. She speaks her mind, which is refreshing. She is passionate and patriotic, and I think she can excite and inspire the nation.' However, he since changed his mind and backed Ms Badenoch's main rival Robert Jenrick in the contest last year before she won last year.
