Sadiq Khan calls for a return to the EU – no referendum needed
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has issued his strongest call yet for the UK to reverse Brexit, urging the Labour Party to fight the next general election on a explicit promise to rejoin the European Union.
In an interview with Italian newspaper la Repubblica, Khan described rejoining the bloc as “inevitable” and laid out a five-stage roadmap, including re-entering the EU customs union and single market during the current parliament – well before the expected 2029 election.
“I see on a daily basis the damage Brexit has done to not just London, but Londoners, the damage economically, socially and culturally,” Khan said.
He pointed to new analysis from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) and Goldman Sachs showing the UK economy would have been around 10% larger without Brexit. For London specifically, he said the capital’s economy is £30 billion smaller, employment is down by 230,000 jobs, and the average family is £3,500 worse off.
A five-stage plan – and no second referendum needed
Khan outlined the steps clearly:
- Reset relations with the EU – already done under Labour
- . Closer alignment, sector by sector as recently signalled by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
- Rejoin the customs union this parliament.
- Rejoin the single market this parliament.
- Commit in Labour’s 2029 manifesto to full EU membership.
He suggested a manifesto pledge could deliver rejoining without a fresh referendum, arguing “the facts have changed” since the 2016 vote and Labour’s 2024 election victory. Key factors include US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, geopolitical instability from the war involving Iran, and the passage of time.
“The single biggest thing that will help the country with the cost of living crisis is to rejoin the European Union,” Khan added. He noted the departure of more than 140,000 EU nationals from London since 2019, from 840,000 to 700,000, hitting construction and hospitality hardest.
A slash with Starmer’s red lines
The intervention directly challenges Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has repeatedly ruled out rejoining the EU, single market or customs union. Downing Street quickly dismissed Khan’s comments, while a Conservative spokesperson accused Starmer of being “in office but not in power,” claiming Khan was now setting EU policy.
Reform UK havevowed to block any such move, while the Liberal Democrats urged immediate action on a customs union to “rebuild the economy” and tackle the cost-of-living crisis.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski called Brexit a “disaster” and said rejoining was a long-term goal. Even former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major, speaking on Wednesday, said Brexit had failed, costing £100 billion in annual European trade and £40 billion in tax revenue.
