It wasn’t all that long ago that a pre-Prime Ministerial Andy Burnham was openly stating that he’d like to see the UK rejoin the EU ‘within his lifetime’. Now, he is better placed than anyone to undo the damage of Brexit – and one former Labour leader is urging him to grasp the nettle.
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Support for rejoining the EU swells to 10-year high
Renewed calls for a full alignment with the European Union follow the survey data shared by Sir John Curtice this weekend, which showed a sustained level of support for the reversal of Brexit. According to Professor Curtice’s figures, the British public currently back rejoining by 61% to 39%.
Within the last decade, that number has traditionally fluctuated between a mid-fifty to mid-forty split. However, as the long-term impact of Brexit becomes more evident, the appetite to stick by the referendum result of 2016 has started waning – calling the ‘true will of the people’ into question.
Curtice did also warn, however, that another referendum on the matter would likely ‘balance on a knife-edge’. But with a number of Brexit voters reportedly experiencing ‘buyers remorse’, and a new generation of largely pro-EU voters now able to cast a ballot, the rejoin campaign would have some advantages.
‘It is necessary to repair the damage done by Brexit’
Neil Kinnock, who spent nine years in charge of Labour while in opposition, believes that there is now a ‘patriotic course’ to be charted, to undo the ‘serious harm’ caused by Brexit. He is therefore compelling Mr. Burnham and his party to put full EU membership in their next manifesto:
“This should give Labour the confidence to loudly state what increasing numbers of people across Britain already know to be the patriotic course. Brexit, as the Prime Minister says, has inflicted serious harm on our country. Our future lies in rebuilding our proper place in our Continent.“
“The case for putting membership of the European Union in Labour’s next manifesto is necessary to repair the damage done by Brexit and, vitally, regain the full economic, political and cultural opportunities, influence and trust that were so needlessly lost. I hope that Labour will lead it.” | Neil Kinnock