The uncertainty surrounding Keir Starmer’s political future has reopened a debate Labour had tried hard to avoid: Britain’s long term relationship with the European Union. Starmer himself had already shifted considerably towards closer cooperation and dynamic alignment with the EU. Some potential future Labour leaders are now going further still, openly speculating on the possibility of rejoining.
This debate is long overdue.
For years, Labour calculated that reopening the Brexit debate was politically imprudent. Europe was treated as an electoral minefield best left untouched. Yet that caution has yielded few obvious rewards. Brexit remains deeply unpopular with large parts of the British public. Poll after poll shows widespread regret and frustration with its economic consequences. At the same time, Nigel Farage, the chief architect and political salesman of Brexit, has become Labour’s strongest domestic challenger.
That creates both a danger and an opportunity.
Assigning responsibility for Brexit matters politically. Farage cannot simultaneously claim ownership of Brexit while distancing himself from its outcomes. But assigning blame is not enough. Voters also want to know what comes next.
So far, the answer has been incrementalism: veterinary agreements, closer regulatory cooperation, security partnerships, participation in selected programmes and a gradual reduction of friction. These steps are sensible and necessary. They improve on the damaging status quo.
But the stark underlying truth remains. Even the closest conceivable relationship outside membership falls well short of what EU membership provides.
This matters more today than it did in 2016. The world has become harsher, more fragmented and more dangerous. Economic security, energy resilience, defence industrial capacity, technological competition and geopolitical leverage increasingly require scale and collective action. In such a world, standing alone is not sovereignty. Often, it is simply diminished influence.
For the UK, the costs are becoming increasingly visible: weaker growth, lower investment, reduced strategic influence and diminished capacity to shape the rules that still affect Britain profoundly. For the EU, too, there is a growing recognition that Europe is stronger with the UK inside rather than permanently half-detached, not least because defence and security are increasingly becoming an EU matter and the UK remains one of Europe’s most significant military and strategic actors.
Of course, rejoining would not be straightforward. The EU would expect commitments and clarity. Questions around opt-outs, budget contributions, free movement and institutional participation would have to be addressed. But these are ultimately details within a much bigger strategic picture.
The bigger picture is about prosperity, sustainability, resilience, security and the ability to act in a harsh global environment. It is about whether Europe, including the UK, can retain agency in a world of increasing economic and political confrontation and fragmentation.
Yes, reopening this debate carries political risks. But what Britain has done so far is plainly not working. Pretending otherwise will not reverse economic stagnation or political fragmentation.
Iceland, after years of hesitation and reluctance, is now once again applying to join the EU, having recognised the signs of the time. Britain may soon have to reach a similar conclusion.
Comments
20 responses to “From Brexit to Re-entry?”
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Re-entering the EU, eh? Sounds like a classic case of ‘let’s put the toothpaste back in the tube’—good luck with that, mate! 😂
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Blimey, looks like the UK’s on a delightful rollercoaster back to Europe—who knew Brexit was just a pit stop? 🎢 At this rate, we’re one more economic hiccup away from a “sorry, my bad” postcard to Brussels! 😂
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Rejoining the EU? Brilliant idea! It’s like deciding to jump back into a cold pool after you’ve just warmed up by the fire. 🥶🌍
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Rejoining the EU, eh? Just what we need—more meetings about meetings while they hand us the bill for the privilege! 😂 Who knew isolation could be so… popular?
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Rejoining the EU? Brilliant idea! Maybe we can finally get our tea and biscuits back on the continental shelf while we’re at it. ☕️🇬🇧
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Looks like the UK’s plan to “go it alone” has turned into a bit of a farce, hasn’t it? 🚕 With all the charm of a rainy Tuesday in London, rejoining the EU might just be the best idea since someone invented tea bags! 🍵
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Looks like the UK’s political strategy is now a bit like a bad holiday: you thought you’d escape the drama, but here we are, packing our bags for a return trip! 🇪🇺✈️ Hope the EU still has our favourite room available!
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Looks like we’re back to the drawing board with Brexit, eh? Who would’ve thought that dodging a minefield would lead us straight into a quagmire instead? 🤔💼
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Seems like the Labour Party’s new strategy is akin to a boomerang—throw it away once and it comes back with a vengeance! 😅 Who knew that Brexit would turn into a long-term relationship drama?
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Rejoining the EU? Brilliant idea! I mean, who doesn’t love a good game of political musical chairs while juggling economic crises? 🎭💼
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Rejoining the EU? Brilliant idea! Just when you thought the UK was getting good at isolation, here comes another round of “let’s be friends again” – who knew Brexit was just a dramatic pause? 😂
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Rejoining the EU, eh? Quite the plot twist for a country that once thought it could go solo like a footballer in a match—only to find out the game’s been called off. 😏
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Rejoining the EU? Brilliant idea! Because who wouldn’t want to swap their sovereignty for a nice dose of bureaucracy and endless meetings in Brussels? 😂
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Isn’t it just delightful how the UK went from “take back control” to “could we get a do-over, please?” 😂 Maybe they should consider putting a ‘failed experiment’ label on Brexit, just for kicks!
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Isn’t it adorable how they’re dusting off the ‘rejoin the EU’ idea like an old coat in the back of the wardrobe? 🤔 Sounds like a classic case of buyer’s remorse, but this time, who knows if the shop will take returns! 🛒
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Rejoining the EU, eh? Because who wouldn’t want to trade in their sovereignty for a chance at a European holiday in the middle of all this chaos? 🍻
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Seems like we’ve come full circle, eh? Maybe next time it’ll just be a Brexit Boomerang tour—cheers to that! 🍻
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Looks like we’re going from a proper farewell to a cheeky “fancy a cuppa?” with the EU, eh? Just when you thought the Brexit drama couldn’t get any juicier, here we are contemplating a reunion—classic British plot twist! 😂🍵
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Rejoining the EU? Brilliant idea! I mean, who wouldn’t want to go back to the ex after a messy breakup, right? 😂🇪🇺 Let’s just hope the paperwork isn’t as long as the British queue for fish and chips!
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Rejoining the EU? Brilliant plan! Nothing says “we’ve got it all figured out” like going from “let’s Brexit” to “maybe we should just sneak back in for a cuppa.” 🍵🙄
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