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TUC Leader Paul Nowak Calls Brexit Deal ‘Bad’, Urges EU Rethink

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The leader of the Trades Union Congress, Paul Nowak, has advised the UK Prime Minister to consider rejoining a customs union with the European Union to boost economic growth. He expressed concern that failing to improve living standards could erode public faith in mainstream politics. This call comes as the Labour Party's manifesto opposed rejoining the EU's customs union, fearing it might jeopardise trade deals with the US and India.

 

Nowak's comments align with recent sentiments from senior Labour ministers who have voiced regret over Brexit's economic impacts. Although Labour, led by Sir Keir Starmer, seeks to mend ties with the EU, the party remains firm against rejoining the single market or customs union. Earlier, a Liberal Democrat bill proposed negotiations for a bespoke customs union, backed by 13 Labour MPs but opposed by Conservatives and Reform UK, who argue it undermines Brexit benefits.

 

A customs union would eliminate tariffs within the EU, easing trade, but critics warn it could limit the UK's ability to forge independent global trade deals. Nowak emphasised the need for action by 2026 to address the cost-of-living crisis, linking high prices partly to what he called a "bad Brexit deal." He urged the government to explore all options for UK-EU relations, including a customs union, stating it's key for industries like aerospace and steel.

 

The TUC, under Nowak, represents over five million members across 47 unions. In the BBC interview, he emphasised the urgency of the new Employment Rights Act, which strengthens worker protections. The government has pledged to proceed with these reforms, despite Conservative concerns about potential business burdens.

 

Moving forward, the political landscape is shifting with increased support for Reform UK, yet Nowak discourages aligning with their immigration policies. He suggests mainstream politics must prove capable of delivering improvements, reflecting a broader discontent highlighted by the recent election of Left candidate Andrea Egan as leader of Unison. Nowak believes that boosting living standards could improve the government's standing in opinion polls.

 

 

Key Takeaways

  • TUC's Paul Nowak urges UK to consider rejoining the EU customs union.
  • Labour's manifesto currently opposes rejoining, fearing impact on trade deals.
  • Nowak emphasises addressing cost-of-living crisis and implementing worker rights.

 

image.png  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-12-27

 

 

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Why not form a political party, dedicated to rejoining, stand on that platform and see what happens. 

 

After all, that is what "the other side" did...

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3 hours ago, JAG said:

Why not form a political party, dedicated to rejoining, stand on that platform and see what happens. 

 

After all, that is what "the other side" did...

Both the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party have declared policy objectives to rejoin the EU.

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Traitor selling out British workers for cheap foreign imports.

 

Shame on him. 

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Why am I not surprised that the TUC an organisation with known left wings views is against this

 

So why not hold another referendum and see what the people think

 

Based on the high support in the UK for Reform I think I know the answer to this vote

4 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Both the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party have declared policy objectives to rejoin the EU.

Remind me how that went for them!

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5 minutes ago, JAG said:

Remind me how that went for them!

What matters is how it goes for them in the future.

 

4 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Both the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party have declared policy objectives to rejoin the EU.

 

I would never have guessed that.

On 12/27/2025 at 4:55 PM, candide said:

It's interesting to me that both businesses and labour unions want similar things.  Might be tough for the UK to cherry-pick the 'good stuff' from the EU whilst ignoring the things that don't suit quite as well.  Will be interesting to see how this goes.

On 12/27/2025 at 2:38 PM, JonnyF said:

Traitor selling out British workers for cheap foreign imports.

 

Shame on him. 

You call the leader of the TUC a traitor.

He represents 5 million workers in 47 allied trade unions, workers who VOLUNTARILY pay their union dues.

Yes, within that 5 million there are still people who believe that leaving EU is/was a good thing so if UK gradually rejoin they will be disappointed.

That’s democracy.

6 hours ago, Red Forever said:

You call the leader of the TUC a traitor.

He represents 5 million workers in 47 allied trade unions, workers who VOLUNTARILY pay their union dues.

Yes, within that 5 million there are still people who believe that leaving EU is/was a good thing so if UK gradually rejoin they will be disappointed.

That’s democracy.

 

Yes a traitor.

 

Democracy was a referendum where the British people voted to leave. 

 

This clown is anti British and anti Democratic. Like most Remainers. 

 

Shame on them.

9 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yes a traitor.

 

Democracy was a referendum where the British people voted to leave. 

 

This clown is anti British and anti Democratic. Like most Remainers. 

 

Shame on them.

Democracy includes the right to express disagreement with BREXIT and campaign for its reversal.

 

There are historical examples of a democratic vote resulting in the removal of Democracy, perhaps that’s what you would prefer.

6 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Democracy includes the right to express disagreement with BREXIT and campaign for its reversal.

 

There are historical examples of a democratic vote resulting in the removal of Democracy, perhaps that’s what you would prefer.

 

Brexit can be overturned with another referendum or a clear manifesto pledge prior to an election. 

 

Labour have neither. Their contempt for democracy is exemplified by their cancellation of local elections that they know they will lose. 

 

They are anti democratic communist tyrants. Right up your street.

15 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Brexit can be overturned with another referendum or a clear manifesto pledge prior to an election. 

 

Labour have neither. Their contempt for democracy is exemplified by their cancellation of local elections that they know they will lose. 

 

They are anti democratic communist tyrants. Right up your street.

You might want to go back to the top of the thread, read the OP and inwardly digest who it is making the statement on returning to the EU.

 

Here’s a clue:

 

’It’s not Labour’.

 

Your slurs are meaningless anyway, but doubly so when you clearly don’t know who’s statements the thread is discussing.

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You might want to go back to the top of the thread, read the OP and inwardly digest who it is making the statement on returning to the EU.

 

Here’s a clue:

 

’It’s not Labour’.

 

Your slurs are meaningless anyway, but doubly so when you clearly don’t know who’s statements the thread is discussing.

 

 

You might want to go back to the top of the thread, read the OP and inwardly digest who it is making the statement on returning to the EU and how he intends to achieve this?.

 

Here’s a clue: using union influence (and inferred potential union votes) over their traditional political party via Starmer's ear.

 

So it is Labour.

 

 

5 minutes ago, nauseus said:

 

 

You might want to go back to the top of the thread, read the OP and inwardly digest who it is making the statement on returning to the EU and how he intends to achieve this?.

 

Here’s a clue: using union influence (and inferred potential union votes) over their traditional political party via Starmer's ear.

 

So it is Labour.

 

 

Hogwash.

 

From the OP, incase you missed it:

 

This call comes as the Labour Party's manifesto opposed rejoining the EU's customs union, fearing it might jeopardise trade deals with the US and India.”

 

So no, not Labour.

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Hogwash.

 

From the OP, incase you missed it:

 

This call comes as the Labour Party's manifesto opposed rejoining the EU's customs union, fearing it might jeopardise trade deals with the US and India.”

 

So no, not Labour.

 

You can believe that carp if you like....but it'll be lonely out there.

3 minutes ago, nauseus said:

 

You can believe that carp if you like....but it'll be lonely out there.


And yet Labour aren’t taking the UK back into the EU.

 

An inconvenient fact you’ll ignore.

14 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:


And yet Labour aren’t taking the UK back into the EU.

 

An inconvenient fact you’ll ignore.

You can believe that carp if you like....but it'll be lonely out there.

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