George Osborne urges UK to rejoin EU Customs Union to revive economy
Former chancellor George Osborne says Brexit has crippled the British economy and recommends re-entering the EU customs union as a quick remedy.
In a wide-ranging interview, former chancellor George Osborne claimed the United Kingdom’s economy has suffered dramatically since Brexit and that the most straightforward remedy is to re-enter the EU customs union, a step he says was never debated. He blamed a "conspiracy of silence" among politicians, business and union leaders for delaying trade re-engagement and dismissed Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s refusal to consider an election pact with Nigel Farage.
Osborne praised Labour prime minister Andy Burnham’s "Tiggerish bounce" and contrasted the stability of the 2010-15 coalition with the "utter chaos" that followed. He argued that rejoining the customs union would improve trade without requiring free-movement of people, and cited defence cooperation after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as evidence of the UK’s intertwined security with Europe. Osborne also reflected on his austerity legacy, his role in bringing the Bayeux Tapestry to London, and the shifting voter bases of the major parties.
Why it matters
Osborne’s call to rejoin the customs union could shape future UK trade policy and the political debate on mitigating Brexit’s economic impact.
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