Overview
- A pro‑EU faction inside the Labour Party has publicly reopened the 'Rejoin' debate, with figures such as Wes Streeting pushing the question while Keir Starmer has sought closer ties with Brussels without committing to readmission.
- Recent polls reported support for returning to the EU at roughly 55% in YouGov surveys and higher in some polls, driven in part by younger voters and changes in the electorate.
- Multiple studies and central‑bank analysis cited in coverage find the UK economy is several percentage points smaller than it likely would have been inside the EU and point to weaker investment, higher inflation and sectoral losses since 2016.
- Starmer resigned on Monday, increasing leadership strains inside Labour and complicating any government effort to build the decisive mandate that experts say would be needed to open formal re‑entry talks with Brussels.
- Experts and analysts say rejoining would not be an administrative reversal: it would require a strong democratic mandate, lengthy negotiations in which the EU would likely demand firmer guarantees, and careful plans to repair damage in agriculture, health services and financial services.