Sadiq Khan is becoming one of the most prominent voices in the ‘Reverse Brexit’ movement, and once again, he has taken the opportunity this week to challenge the government to go further and faster in resetting the UK’s relations with the EU.
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Sadiq Khan renews calls to essentially reverse Brexit
An ardent supporter of the Remain campaign, the London Mayor has passionately campaigned against Brexit over the last decade. With Andy Burnham this week acknowledging the need to align closer to the European Union, Khan has reiterated his calls to ‘undo the damage’ caused by the referendum result.
Writing in The Guardian, he took an almighty swipe at Jacob Rees-Mogg, who famously promised that voting for Brexit would lead us towards ‘sunlit uplands’ – a comment Khan has branded ‘total fiction’, juxtaposing this claim with the number of jobs lost as a consequence of the vote.
He also set his stall out for next month’s UK-EU summit, stating that he would publicly encourage the Labour Government to bring Britain back into both the customs union and the single market before the next General Election date in 2029.
“Ten years after the referendum, the sunlit uplands promised by the Brexiters have proven to be a total fiction. Instead, Britain finds itself battling an economic and geopolitical storm. There were nearly two million fewer jobs overall in the UK as a result of us leaving.”
“The EU is our biggest trading partner and our most reliable ally. That’s why, at the UK-EU summit in November, I will call on the government to lay the groundwork for Britain’s swift return to both the customs union and the single market – a move that should happen within this parliament.” | Sadiq Khan
Who is running in the London Mayoral Elections for 2028?
Sadiq Khan may also face a huge test of public opinion himself in 2028, when the next London Mayoral Elections are due to be held. The incumbent has yet to declare if he’ll seek a fourth term, and would be going up against Laila Cunningham of Reform, and James Cleverly of the Conservatives.
Whether he runs or not, Khan will be unwavering in his opposition to Brexit – an act he has labelled as the ‘biggest of of self-harm’ in British history:
“The brutal truth is that leaving the EU was the biggest act of economic and geopolitical self-harm in our country’s history. Rejoining is the only viable path to long-term prosperity and security. Anything less will fail to undo the severe damage that’s been done.”
“For far too long, Labour’s debate about Europe has been constrained by ‘red lines’ that make rebuilding our relationship with the EU impossible. But Burnham has now recognised that these lines were drawn up for a different world. Reversing Brexit is our best chance of getting back on track.” | Sadiq Khan