Shadow chancellor advocates for UK rejoining European Union

Reeves expressed support for Andy Burnham’s recent initiative to explore potential negotiations with Brussels, calling his leadership “welcome.” She acknowledged the ongoing discussion surrounding the UK’s relationship with Europe, but emphasized her conviction that the country’s future is within the EU.

“Brexit has made us poorer, weaker and less secure,” Reeves wrote in the Sunday Times. She further stressed the need for proponents of re-entry to clearly articulate the benefits and ensure a well-planned approach, particularly in anticipation of the UK-EU summit scheduled for November 20th. At that summit, she hopes to see confirmation of the previously negotiated youth mobility scheme and progress on joining the SAFE defense partnership.

Reeves’ comments mark a significant moment as one of the most prominent voices within the Labour party to explicitly advocate for rejoining the EU, despite previous commitments.

Burnham previously initiated a discussion about the consequences of Brexit, suggesting potential proposals for closer ties to be revealed closer to the November 20th summit, when a youth mobility agreement is expected.

A recent Ipsos poll indicates growing support for reversing Brexit. The survey revealed that 56% of respondents would vote to rejoin the EU, a four-percentage-point increase since May. Conversely, opposition has decreased to 30%. Among likely referendum voters, support for rejoining reached 63%, compared to 34% against. The poll also showed considerable support among those under 35 (73%), Labour voters (77%), and even a portion of Conservative (31%) and Reform (16%) voters.