sarah khalil

Over recent months, debate over the future of the United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union (EU) has returned to the forefront of domestic political discourse. Increasingly, the term on everyone’s lips has shifted from "Brexit" to "Bregret," reflecting the growing calls for Britain to rejoin the European Union. This shift has been driven by a widening perception that the economic, political, and security consequences of Brexit have fallen short of the promises made during the referendum campaign.At the same time, the UK has been experiencing renewed political uncertainty following the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxd00lg599o" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">resignation</a> of Prime Minister Keir Starmer on June 22, 2026 and the appointment of Andy Burnham as his successor. This development has prolonged a period of political instability during which Britain has seen seven prime ministers in the span of roughly a decade, thereby reopening debate over the country's future relationship with the European Union.Key ImplicationsThe growing calls for the United Kingdom to rejoin the EU reflect a number of important developments, most notably the following:1. Rising Public Support for Rejoining the European Union: An Ipsos poll <a href="https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/10-years-brexit-vote-majority-britons-would-vote-apply-rejoin-eu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">conducted</a> in May 2026 found that 58% of voters likely to participate in a hypothetical future referendum would support the United Kingdom's re-entry into the European Union. The survey also showed that nearly half of Britons (49%) favor holding a new referendum following the next general election. Moreover, the findings indicate that a stable majority now <a href="https://ecfr.eu/article/if-the-uk-wants-to-rejoin-the-european-union-it-first-needs-to-understand-it/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">supports</a> rejoining the EU, with particularly strong backing among younger voters, 68% of those aged 18–34 expressing support.Similarly, another poll <a href="https://time.com/article/2026/05/18/united-kingdom-rejoins-eu-possibility-starmer-streeting-debate/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">conducted</a> by YouGov and published in April 2026 found that 55% of Britons are in favor of returning to the European Union.2. Growing Support Among the Political Elite for Rejoining the European Union: Before succeeding Keir Starmer as prime minister, Andy Burnham had <a href="https://time.com/article/2026/05/18/united-kingdom-rejoins-eu-possibility-starmer-streeting-debate/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">expressed support</a> for Britain's eventual return to the European Union on several occasions. Having <a href="https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/ten-years-after-brexit-british-political-instability-puts-brakes-on-euuk-reset" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">campaigned</a> for the Remain side during the 2016 referendum, Burnham argued that Brexit had been harmful to the country. At the same time, he maintained that "the last thing we should do now is reopen those arguments," emphasizing his respect for the decision reached in the 2016 referendum.In February 2026, London Mayor Sadiq Khan <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/02/08/sadiq-khan-my-ultimate-goal-is-to-reverse-brexit/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">described</a> Brexit as "the greatest act of economic self-harm ever committed by any country," adding that his ultimate objective is for the United Kingdom to rejoin the European Union.Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Lord Spencer Livermore has likewise emerged as one of the most prominent advocates of rejoining the EU. Addressing the House of Lords in June 2026, he <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/britain-eu-rejoin-brexit-lord-livermore-b2987576.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">argued</a> that reversing Brexit is "absolutely" in the United Kingdom's national economic interest. Other former senior officials have expressed similar views. In May 2026, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting <a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/06/03/uk-treasury-minister-says-it-is-inevitable-that-britain-will-rejoin-the-eu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">described</a> the Brexit vote as "a catastrophic mistake," arguing that it had left Britain poorer and weaker.3. Expanding Grassroots Mobilization in Support of Rejoining the EU: Ahead of the tenth anniversary of Brexit, hundreds of demonstrators <a href="https://www.itv.com/news/london/2026-06-20/brexit-10-years-on-hundreds-march-through-capital-calling-to-rejoin-eu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">gathered</a> in London during June 2026 to call for the United Kingdom's return to the European Union. Protesters described Brexit as "a farce."The National Rejoin March (NRM) attracted participants carrying European Union flags while wearing blue-and-yellow hats and T-shirts bearing slogans such as "European Citizen" and "Rejoin."4. The Rising Economic Cost of Brexit: According to some estimates, by 2025, Brexit had <a href="https://time.com/article/2026/05/18/united-kingdom-rejoins-eu-possibility-starmer-streeting-debate/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reduced</a> the United Kingdom's economic growth by between 6% and 8% of GDP.In July 2025, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR)—the independent public body sponsored by the Treasury—projected that, over the long term, both exports and imports would be approximately 15% lower than they would have been had the United Kingdom remained an EU member. The OBR also projected a <a href="https://intpolicydigest.org/britain-s-quiet-return-to-the-european-question/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">4%</a> decline in productivity.According to a survey conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in June 2026, a substantial proportion of Britons <a href="https://ecfr.eu/publication/brexit-isnt-working-british-voters-are-ready-for-a-european-future/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">believe</a> Brexit has had a negative impact on the country and has worsened the issues they care about most, including the cost of living, economic growth, opportunities for young people, trade, and the management of irregular migration.5. Loss of Confidence in the Promises That Accompanied Brexit: Brexit was not merely an economic project; at its core, it was a political project based on the promise of restoring sovereignty—freeing the United Kingdom from EU regulations, regaining control over immigration, and pursuing an independent trade policy.Over time, however, confidence in these promises has steadily faded. For example, former senior civil servant Philip Rycroft, who served as Permanent Secretary at the Department for Exiting the European Union, has <a href="https://bestforbritain.org/time_talk_top_brexit/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">called</a> for a serious debate on the possibility of Britain's return to the EU. He argued that Brexit had failed to deliver the expected benefits in terms of economic growth, trade expansion, or immigration control.His assessment reflects an important shift within policymaking circles, as criticism of Brexit is no longer confined to its traditional opponents but now increasingly includes individuals who played a central role in implementing it.A <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-eu-uk-rejoin-nick-clegg-b3001093.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">survey</a> conducted by Merlin Strategies found that 55% of respondents support restoring freedom of movement, while only 16% oppose it. The same survey showed that nearly two-thirds of respondents believe that immigration has worsened since Brexit, despite the promise of "taking back control" of Britain's immigration system having been one of the central themes of the Brexit campaign.6. The Emergence of Rapidly Evolving Security and Geopolitical Dynamics: Calls for Britain to return to the European Union are no longer driven solely by economic considerations, but <a href="https://bestforbritain.org/time_talk_top_brexit/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">increasingly</a> by security and strategic concerns.The international system is undergoing profound strains amid the continuing war in Ukraine, escalating tensions with Russia, and what many perceive as a relative decline in U.S. engagement in European affairs. As a result, there is a growing sense that the UK needs to reposition itself within its traditional alliances.In this environment, solidarity with Britain's European neighbors is no longer viewed merely as a political choice, but as a strategic necessity for safeguarding the UK's national security amid an increasingly volatile international landscape.Numerous ChallengesDespite growing public support for rejoining the EU, this objective continues to face significant obstacles. The resignation of Keir Starmer represents the latest setback in this regard, as it led to the postponement of the EU–UK Summit that had been scheduled for July 22, 2026 and which was intended to help reset bilateral relations through closer cooperation in trade, defense, and mobility. Beyond this development, several additional challenges remain:1. Continued Domestic Political Divisions: Both the Conservative Party and the right-wing populist party Reform UK have <a href="https://www.epc.eu/publication/brexit-10-years-on-why-would-the-eu-want-the-uk-back/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">pledged</a> to repeal any agreement that a Labour government might reach with Brussels as part of a proposed reset agenda covering food standards, energy markets, and youth mobility.Notably, both parties had <a href="https://www.epc.eu/publication/brexit-10-years-on-why-would-the-eu-want-the-uk-back/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">accused</a> the previous government led by Keir Starmer of attempting to "reverse Brexit through the back door."These positions stand in contrast to growing support within the Labour Party for closer ties with the European Union. According to <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-eu-uk-rejoin-nick-clegg-b3001093.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reports</a> published on June 23, 2026, senior Labour figure Neil Kinnock argued that, a decade after the referendum, people increasingly feel the impact of Brexit on their incomes, finances, and jobs. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that negotiating the United Kingdom's return to both the European Union and the Single Market would be a difficult and lengthy process.2. The European Union's Firm Position on Membership Requirements: Several European officials and political leaders have voiced support in recent years for Britain's eventual return to the European Union, including <a href="https://time.com/article/2026/05/18/united-kingdom-rejoins-eu-possibility-starmer-streeting-debate/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">German MP Knut Abraham</a>, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and former French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. In an <a href="https://www.lefigaro.fr/vox/monde/gabriel-attal-il-est-temps-d-ouvrir-la-voie-au-retour-de-la-grande-bretagne-dans-l-union-europeenne-20260624" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">open</a> letter published in Le Figaro on June 24, 2026, Attal described Brexit as "a catastrophe" and argued that the United Kingdom's return to the European Union "would be in the interest of the French people," highlighting the importance of European coordination in light of the war in Ukraine and the perceived retreat of the United States from European affairs.Nevertheless, EU member states <a href="https://time.com/article/2026/05/18/united-kingdom-rejoins-eu-possibility-starmer-streeting-debate/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">appear</a> unlikely to enter formal negotiations with London until they are convinced that the UK has reached a stable and enduring political consensus regarding membership. European governments remain well aware of Britain's highly fragmented political landscape. Moreover, the possibility that a Reform UK government could take office in 2029—one that would categorically reject EU membership—means that Brussels is likely to approach calls for Britain's return with considerable caution. In addition, not all EU <a href="https://www.dw.com/ar/%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D9%82%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%87%D9%84-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A7/a-77638997%0a%0a" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">member</a> states are currently enthusiastic about reopening the question of British membership.3. Legal and Institutional Complexities: Even if British public opinion continues to shift in favor of rejoining the European Union, the <a href="https://intpolicydigest.org/britain-s-quiet-return-to-the-european-question/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">practical path</a> toward membership would be both lengthy and complex. The UK would be required to submit a formal application under Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union—the standard accession mechanism—and satisfy the Union's political and economic membership criteria.More importantly, Britain would not be able to regain membership under the same special arrangements and opt-outs it previously enjoyed. European leaders have made it clear that any future membership would not include the exemptions formerly granted to the UK, raising the possibility that re-admission would be subject to certain requirements, such as adopting the euro or participating in deeper institutional integration.Taken together, the growing calls for Britain's return to the European Union reflect a gradual shift in both political and public sentiment within the United Kingdom, driven by the economic, security, and geopolitical consequences of Brexit. Nevertheless, before this shift in mood can be translated into meaningful political action, considerable obstacles still remain. These challenges include persistent domestic political divisions, the absence of a clear political roadmap, the European Union's firm position on membership conditions, and the lack of a stable national consensus regarding the country's future relationship with Brussels.Accordingly, the priority for the foreseeable future is likely to remain incremental progress toward closer cooperation with the EU rather than pursuing full re-accession. Any meaningful steps toward renewed membership will depend in large part on the direction taken by Britain's political leadership and on any further shifts in British public opinion.

Why Are Calls for Britain's Return to the European Union Growing?