A decade has passed since the seismic shock of the Brexit referendum – 10 whole years since the beginning of the Conservatives’ botched Brexit experiment, cheered on by Nigel Farage. As we mark this milestone, we must look beyond the slogans and the bitter divisions of the past, honestly assess where we stand today and, crucially, look to where we need to be.
Let us remember why this matters so deeply. It is not about rehashing old battles but the fundamental safety, prosperity, and influence of our nation. It is about why it is so crucial for Britain to be there, at the very heart of Europe, with our nearest neighbours.
Nowhere is that clearer than in the story of European security.
Cast your mind back to 2014, when Putin first invaded Crimea. We recognised then that the ultimate way to defeat his long-term ambitions would be to get Europe off its dangerous dependence on Russian oil and gas. We needed to stop the flow of money to the Kremlin and bankrupt Putin’s war machine before it could do further harm.
As energy secretary, I led Britain’s efforts to bring Europe together behind that vital common cause, and we succeeded. We did not just participate; we wrote Europe’s energy security strategy. Britain did that. We achieved it by leading in Europe.
We were able to bring together European governments who were more worried about immediate action on energy security with those who were more focused on climate change. We united them by showing that, in this case, security and climate action were exactly the same thing. Britain did that: we built the consensus, we drove the policy, and we strengthened the entire continent.
But then, instead of seeing it through, the Conservatives walked away. By ripping the UK out of the single market and customs union, they blew an enormous hole in our economy, costing the country a staggering £90bn in lost tax revenue in 2025 alone. They gave up Britain’s seat at the table and locked us out of vital discussions at the worst possible time.
Just imagine where we could be if Britain had continued to lead on European energy security. Imagine how much weaker Putin’s position would be if we had choked off his funding much earlier. Imagine how much safer Europe – and Britain – would be today.
Instead, we have witnessed a terrible waste of British influence, a severe cost-of-living crisis, and a tragic degradation of our collective security. By abandoning our leadership role, we weakened ourselves in front of Putin, Xi Jinping, and Donald Trump.
The lesson of the last 10 years is not that we should accept our diminished status, but that we must actively work to fix it. We cannot afford another decade of isolation and economic stagnation.
That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling for a comprehensive Growth and Defence Partnership with the EU, with a customs union, a security council, and – crucially – membership of the single market.
This is not just a trade deal; it is a plan to make Britain richer, safer, and stronger. We can grow the economy, slash the cost of living, fund the NHS, and properly resource our armed forces.
This is a plan for jobs and national resilience. Closer defence cooperation will not only protect our borders but boost British industry too – supporting high-skilled jobs in British shipbuilding, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and cutting-edge defence technology.
Our businesses need friction-free trade, our young people deserve the return of their ability to live and work in Europe, and our security services require the deepest possible cooperation with our European partners to keep us safe. This Growth and Defence Partnership is the best hope our country has to stop the chaos, end the crisis, and take the biggest step back towards full membership of the EU.
Ultimately, my goal is to get us back at the table and at the heart of Europe. We must ensure that the next decade is defined not by what we lost, but by what we build together: Britain leading again.
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