'Europe has to be united': David Lammy calls on countries to end 'petty' Brexit spats
8 March 2022, 18:55 | Updated: 8 March 2022, 19:44
David Lammy has told LBC's Tonight with Andrew Marr that "Europe has to be united" moving forward, for security and diplomatic cooperation.
Listen to this article
Loading audio...
"I think the world changed February 24. We are most definitely now in a post-Brexit environment.
"I have to say the petty spats with Macron over the English Channel fishing rights, Article 16, it all feels really rather pathetic in light of what's happening in Europe.
"Of course it's brought us closer together. It's patently clear that we have to be in partnership with Europe and at the centre of that discussion."
Watch Tonight with Andrew Marr exclusively on Global Player every Monday to Thursday from 6pm to 7pm https://www.globalplayer.com/live/lbc/uk/.
"Would you like to see a new generous trade deal or strategic partnership for a future Labour government with the EU?" Andrew asked.
David said: "This is not about trade. It is about security, diplomatic cooperation, political and social cooperation."
He added: "It's patently clear that the future of Europe has to be united."
Read more: 'Big area of failure': Jeremy Hunt slams UK's approach to Ukrainian refugees
Read more: Apex of history: Ukraine wouldn't be free without 'brave' Zelenskyy, says Jeremy Hunt
It comes after David told Andrew that he was "very, very sad" after a damning parliamentary report found ex-Commons speaker John Bercow to be a "serial bully".
You can also listen to the podcast Tonight with Andrew Marr only on Global Player.
The independent panel found that Mr Bercow should have been "expelled" if he was still an MP.
"David, do you still regard him as an intergalactic hero?" Andrew asked, referencing a 2019 tweet from the Labour MP.
"I'm very, very sad today. I haven't read the report in full but the bit that I've read...it's disturbing and it's very sad indeed," David said.
He added: "John Bercow was popular during the Brexit years, he was very good on issues of equalities, race.
"I got on very well with him indeed.
"But I've been bullied - I was bullied throughout school - and these are very serious allegations."
