Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has indicated that the United Kingdom might consider rejoining the European Union “in the medium to long term,” diverging from Labour’s current stance on Brexit.
Recently, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed a desire to “reset” the UK’s relationship with European allies.
However, he made it clear that any future negotiations regarding trade will not involve re-entering the EU or reinstating the freedom of movement. Starmer also expressed skepticism about the UK returning to the EU within his lifetime.
Despite this, Khan suggested that a discussion about the UK’s future in relation to the EU may become necessary “in the medium to long term,” acknowledging that such a move wouldn’t be feasible in the immediate future. The mayor’s remarks imply a more open-ended view of the UK’s European future than the current Labour leadership.
The Prime Minister has reiterated his intent to mend the strained relations with Europe that have lingered since the Brexit negotiations, aiming for a better trade agreement than the one established by Boris Johnson’s government, which he labeled as “botched.”
Before the last general election, Labour dismissed the idea of participating in an EU-wide youth mobility scheme, asserting that their aim was to “improve the UK’s working relationship with the EU within our red lines – no return to the single market, customs union, or free movement.”
When asked if he shares Sir Keir’s outlook, Khan humorously remarked, “Well, I hope Keir has a very long lifetime! I don’t want any conspiracy theories about how long I want Keir to live for.”
He then clarified, “It’s not possible in the short term for us to rejoin the EU. I think referendums are once-in-a-generation issues. In the medium to long term, there will need to be a conversation about whether we have a better future inside the EU or outside of it.”
EU’s Eight Demands Test UK’s Good Faith
Meanwhile, earlier this month, the EU issued a cautionary note to Starmer, warning that his attempts to repair relations with the bloc could falter if specific conditions are not met.
The European Commission, while expressing cautious optimism about Starmer’s approach, laid out a set of eight demands for the UK to fulfill as a demonstration of its “real government commitment” to the withdrawal agreement.
According to the report, the EU’s demands include the full implementation of existing post-Brexit agreements concerning Northern Ireland and the rights of EU citizens residing in the UK.
EU diplomats described these actions as a “test of good faith” in the evolving relationship between the UK and the EU.
Additionally, the EU emphasized the necessity of upholding a High Court ruling that determined EU citizens who have lived in the UK for five years should not be required to apply separately for settled status.
Implementing this ruling in full is seen as a critical step in maintaining the trust and cooperation between the UK and the EU moving forward.
Khan’s remarks and the EU’s demands underscore the ongoing complexities and tensions in the UK’s post-Brexit landscape, suggesting that the conversation about the UK’s future relationship with the EU is far from over.
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