Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine claimed Brexit “has become a dirty word” after the King’s Speech made no reference to it.
Instead, the Labour Government’s plans to bring about radical housing reform and more devolved powers was focused upon.
Speaking on GB News, Jardine said the UK’s departure from the EU was damaging, but it’s now time for the country to “move on”.
“Brexit has become a dirty word”, she said.
Christine Jardine says Brexit has 'become a dirty word'
PA / GB NEWS
“But there is no way we can forget it. It’s damaging British industry, British business and British life every day.
“But what you did have in the King’s Speech, perhaps not as much as the Liberal Democrats would like, but there was a recognition from this Labour government that we have to repair our relationship with Europe.
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Christine Jardine spoke to Tom Harwood and Emily Carver on GB News
GB NEWS
“Yes, Brexit is a dirty word, but it’s a dirty word because it has damaged Britain’s prosperity.
“We have to move on.”
Jardine’s party, the Liberal Democrats, have long been advocates of the European bloc and have previously made no attempt to hide their desire to rejoin.
But in recent times, the party appears to have scaled back on that demand and are instead more in favour of harbouring positive relations with the bloc.
Keir Starmer's plans were set out today
POOLPlans set out in the Lib Dem manifesto include the rejoining of the Single Market, something neither Labour or the Conservatives sided with.
While Labour hinted at Brexit, the word itself was not mentioned during the King’s Speech.
As the King set out the Government’s legislative agenda on Wednesday, he said: “My Government will seek to reset the relationship with European partners and work to improve the United Kingdom’s trade and investment relationship with the European Union.
“My ministers will seek a new security pact to strengthen co-operation on the mutual threats faced by the United Kingdom and the European Union.”
The package of legislation includes the Product Safety and Metrology Bill, which will make it easier for the UK to recognise new EU product regulations to prevent businesses from being laden with extra costs.
This approach marks a major shift from the previous Tory government, which placed a strong emphasis on diverging from the bloc’s rules.