Sadiq Khan urges UK to rejoin EU amid security and economic crises
Mayor Sadiq Khan called for Britain to re-enter the EU, linking the move to the war in Ukraine, US unpredictability and the economic damage of Brexit.
Sadiq Khan wrote to Hamish Falconer, the Minister for European Relations, demanding a suite of new EU arrangements, such as eliminating food-and-drink trade barriers, creating an emissions-trading energy pact, launching a youth mobility scheme and supporting touring musicians, as interim steps toward eventual EU re-entry. He described Brexit as the greatest economic and geopolitical self-harm in UK history, citing City Hall analysis that London’s economy is £30 billion smaller and residents are about £3,400 poorer on average.
Khan warned that Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine and Donald Trump’s unsettling ambivalence toward European security heighten the urgency for tighter EU cooperation. He argued that Europe can provide both security and a substantial growth boost, urging the UK to set aside “red lines” and rebuild ties. While the Prime Minister suggested upcoming UK-EU talks could add £10 billion a year to the economy, Khan maintained that rejoining the EU remains the ultimate destination.
Why it matters
The mayor’s push highlights how Brexit’s economic fallout and global security concerns are driving renewed calls for closer EU ties.
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