Labour goes into Euro-meltdown as Sadiq Khan says occasion ought to again rejoining EU at subsequent election
Labour has been plunged into fresh infighting after Sadiq Khan demanded the party backs rejoining the EU at the next election.
The London Mayor made the incendiary call to reverse Brexit as Keir Starmer struggles to contain unrest on multiple fronts.
The PM has been scrambling for a ‘reset’ with Brussels, while Rachel Reeves has been pushing for closer ties – admitting yesterday she still wished the country had voted Remain in 2016.
Speaking to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Sir Sadiq insisted the government should rejoining both the customs union and the single market in this Parliament.
And he suggested that fighting the next election on a ticket of resuming full membership of the bloc would mean there is no need for another referendum.
Sadiq Khan made the incendiary call to reverse Brexit as Keir Starmer struggles to contain unrest on multiple fronts
‘I see on a daily basis the damage Brexit has done to not just London, but to Londoners, the damage economically, socially and culturally,’ Sir Sadiq said.
‘I’m quite clear in terms of what needs to happen, which is, we should join the European Union.’
Sir Sadiq pointed to the election of Donald Trump, growing global instability and the passage of time as reasons to revisit the issue, arguing that ‘the facts have changed’ and ‘the evidence has changed’.
‘We should, as a Labour Party, fight the next general election with a clear manifesto commitment, a vote for Labour means we would rejoin the European Union. I think it’s inevitable,’ he said.
The comments immediately sparked clashes between Labour MPs, underlining that the party is still deeply divided over Brexit.
Sir Keir – a Europhile who campaigned for a second referendum as shadow Brexit secretary – has repeatedly insisted that the UK will not be going back into either the customs union or single market.
But earlier this week Ms Reeves warned that Britain risked being ‘stranded’ between rival trading blocs unless it forged closer ties with Brussels.
She said any divergence from EU regulations would be limited, describing it as ‘the exception, not the norm’.
Ms Reeves added: ‘Our fate as a country is inescapably bound with that of Europe.’
Sir Keir, pictured with commission president Ursula von der Leyen, has been scrambling for a ‘reset’ with Brussels
By the time of the next joint summit later this year, the UK and EU want to finalise agreements on a youth mobility scheme, as well as establishing a common sanitary and phytosanitary area and on linking their emissions trading systems.
In February, Downing Street dismissed the prospect of rejoining the customs union after European economic commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said the bloc would be open to discussions.
No 10 sought to pour cold water on the idea, saying the Government would be sticking to its red lines as it deepens ties with the EU.
The PM’s official spokesman said: ‘We will not be rejoining the customs union, the single market or returning to freedom of movement.
‘Those are our red lines as per the Government’s manifesto.
‘We do want a closer economic partnership with the EU, but rejoining the customs union would unpick important trade agreements we’ve reached, including our deals with the US and India.’
