Victoria Collins MP calls on the government to join the single market and European Defence Partnership

23 June 2026

Victoria Collins MP has called for a bold new deal with Europe, including joining the single market, to cut the cost of living for local people in and secure the growth the UK needs.

Victoria says too many local businesses and families in Harpenden, Berkhamstead, Tring and our villages are being “punished” with sky-high bills and squeezed budgets.

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to negotiate a new Growth and Defence Partnership with the EU, as proposed by party leader Ed Davey, that would turbocharge local economic growth and bring real relief to hard-pressed residents and businesses.

The plans would see the UK join the EU single market and a customs union, tearing down trade barriers and boosting economic growth. It would reverse damage from the Conservatives' botched Brexit deal, which cost the country an estimated £90 billion in lost tax revenue in 2025 alone.

Victoria is also calling for deeper defence ties with European partners, to keep Britain safe and counter growing threats from Vladimir Putin and an unreliable Donald Trump.

Victoria said

“It’s time to talk about the elephant in the room. 10 years on, there is no denying that Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson’s Brexit experiment has been a failure. It did real damage to our local economy and worsened the cost-of-living crisis, the effects of which are being felt by families, traders and businesses across Harpenden, Berkhamsted, Tring and our communities.

“The world has changed, and we must adapt, but being at the heart of Europe, however, remains the right thing to do. That starts with bold action to trade and work with our closest allies.”

“The Conservative Brexit deal has meant money taken away from our local schools and hospitals, and out of our pockets in higher taxes in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.

“It was the reason I first started campaigning with the Liberal Democrats, and we say that enough is enough, we need to move boldly forward. That’s why we are calling on the Labour government to take the bold action that is needed to help people and businesses now. 

“There must be no more dithering and delay in growing our economy, tackling the cost of living and keeping our communities safe, and that starts with rebuilding our relationship with Europe."

The Liberal Democrats are calling for the UK government to begin talks immediately with the EU on a new Growth and Defence Partnership including:

• Joining the single market as a member of the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) and the European Economic Area (EEA), alongside Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
• Forming a new UK-EU customs union.
• A new defence pact, including a new European Rearmament Bank, UK access to the €150 billion SAFE programme, a new European Security Council, and joined-up procurement through the EU’s defence industrial toolkit.