The tough task facing Westminster’s new pro-EU group

But many are much more serious. There are APPGs on net zero, domestic abuse, refugees, and spinal cord injuries, among many others. Now we can add a new one to that list. An APPG on Europe, which launched this week amid excited talk that it would “pile pressure on Keir Starmer (by) demanding closer ties with the EU”. 

The group is desperately needed, not least because the new Labour government shut down the European Scrutiny Committee, which used to keep an eagle eye on the EU’s laws and how they affect this country. This did some good work, despite having Bill Cash, one of the architects of Brexit, as its long-time chair and members including and finger-raising Brexiteer Andrea Jenkyns and the DUP’s Sammy Wilson.

Still, it can hardly be argued that MPs no longer need to keep an eye on these things – in fact, it’s even more necessary now that we don’t have any MEPs or commissioners in Brussels to do that for us. So, this APPG is a good start.

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, the Labour MP for Tooting, is co-chair and says, “The group will explore how we build a positive relationship with our European counterparts, working on our shared interests and values”.

The European Movement will provide the group’s secretariat, offering management expertise and advice. Mike Galsworthy, head of the EM, told me, “We want to keep a line (to the EU) open and free. We hope to do something with this parliament which we haven’t seen in previous ones, get MPs touring the embassies, touring the parliaments, having enquiry sessions about pan-European issues.”  

The grouping had its first meeting earlier this week and has members from the Labour, Lib Dems, SNP and Green Parties. Although Allin-Khan’s co-chair is Tory peer Lord Kirkhope, it seems to lack any Tory MPs. I wonder if anyone will put their head on the block and join? 

After all, encouraging better relations with our neighbours is hardly controversial, is it? The group would apparently even be keen to see Nigel Farage come along. They will keep a light on, no doubt. 

So the APPG on Europe is to be welcomed, though it is perhaps a sign of how bad things are and how far our relationship with the continent has deteriorated that the best we can manage is a meeting group for like-minded MPs. The European Movement calculates that 80% of current MPs were Remainers, so the potential membership is huge (but don’t get too excited – one of thos who voted Remain in 2016 is ECHR-hating Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick). 

What they are up against is that the government, let alone the opposition, seems not in the least bit disposed to do anything serious about Brexit. Closing down the European Scrutiny Committee is just one sign of that. 

A minor “reset”, cutting back on the offensive remarks, visiting Brussels occasionally, perhaps asking for a few improvements to the TCA but without making any concessions in case they frighten the horses, is not really a policy. It is absolutely not a serious attempt to row back on the disasters of Brexit, and I cannot help but think that will soon be seen as a disaster in its own right. The UK really needs a better deal with the EU and it stands no chance at all of getting one at the moment. 

The APPG on Europe is therefore to be welcomed, but when you look at what they are up against it feels somewhat like a parliamentary group on the USSR during the cold war. These were pleasant and they kept “lines open” –  I know, I took part in a meeting myself while at university. But did they bring down the Berlin Wall? Did they hell!