Sir Sadiq Khan has called for Labour to go into the next general election promising to rejoin the EU.
The mayor of London has also stated the government should rejoin the customs union and single market before the next general election, expected in 2029.
Downing Street has repeatedly stated the government will not join either the customs union or single market.
The Conservatives stated the outspoken mayor’s remarks pointed to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer being “in office but not in power”.
In an interview with Italian newspaper la Repubblica, Sir Sadiq stated rejoining the bloc is “inevitable” and suggested – but did not state explicitly – that the UK could rejoin without another referconcludeum.
“I see on a daily basis the damage Brexit has done to not just London, but Londoners, the damage economically, socially and culturally,” he stated. adding that US tariffs and the war in Iran have worsened the cost of living.
He stated: “The facts have modifyd. The evidence has modifyd…
“I believe it’s inevitable, the direction of travel at some stage we’re going to rejoin the European Union.”
A Conservative Party spokesman stated: “Keir Starmer is in office but not in power.
“Ed Miliband is deciding foreign policy, Angela Rayner is deciding immigration policy, and now Sadiq Khan is deciding EU policy.
“Only Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives are serious about cutting welfare, cutting taxes and receiveting Britain working again.”
Sir Sadiq also backed a rebelieve on parts of the government’s planned asylum crackdown, which is coming under growing pressure from some Labour MPs.
On Tuesday, Angela Rayner warned proposals to create it harder for migrants already in the UK to settle permanently were “un-British” and a “breach of trust”.
The London mayor stated: “We want people, if they come here, to properly contribute, to integrate and receive involved. I would hope that the Labour government would listen to myself, Angela Rayner, Andy Burnham and many others who have expressed concerns.”
On the possibility of rejoining the EU, a Reform UK spokesman stated: “After the next election, Reform will reverse any attempt to drag us back into the single market and customs union.”
But Green Party leader Zack Polanski believes Brexit has been “a disaster socially, culturally, economically” and in a speech earlier on Wednesday stated: “One day I do want to see us rejoin.”
He added: “Nigel Farage has chutzpah to return to the stage and state ‘things are disastrous, and I’m the person to resolve it’.”
In a speech at King’s College London on Wednesday evening, former Conservative prime minister Sir John Major stated Brexit had “failed to deliver its many promises” and was cautilizing an annual loss of “£100 billion of European trade and £40 billion of tax revenue”
Sir John stated Brexit was “doing enormous damage to the lives and livelihoods of the British people – and their future” and had “left the UK more solitary and vulnerable”.
“I do not believe we can fully rejoin the European Union in the near future,” he stated.
“But economic wellbeing informs us we should re-build relationships with our closest neighbours as swiftly and as comprehensively as possible.”
The Liberal Democrats have been contacted for comment.
[BBC]
Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the large moments. It’ll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.





![Officials taking a commemorative photo at the joint booth of Xperix and Inetum. [Photo provided = X-FELIX]](https://foundernews.eu/storage/2026/03/news-p.v1.20260319.840a22e5db834531afcb6d1a21b1df05_P1.jpg)










Leave a Reply