Labour should commit to rejoining the European Union in its next general election manifesto, according to London mayor Sadiq Khan, who has called on the party to take a more decisive position on Europe.
In remarks likely to be viewed as a challenge to party leader Keir Starmer, Khan said Labour must “be bold” in presenting its vision to voters.
Speaking to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, he reiterated his support for the UK rejoining the EU customs union and single market during the current parliament — a proposal the prime minister has already dismissed.
Khan went further, suggesting the party should include a commitment to full EU membership if it secures victory at the next general election, expected in 2029.
Labour EU Rejoin Pledge Debate Intensifies Ahead Of Next Election
Khan said: “I’m quite clear. On the ballot paper of the next general election is a vote for Labour, a vote to rejoin the European Union, and we should be unequivocal about the benefits of the European Union because we’ve now seen the alternative.
We’ve now seen what happens when you’re outside the European Union: less investment in the UK, less exports to the European Union.”
His position contrasts sharply with that of Starmer, who has repeatedly ruled out any return to the EU, the single market, or the customs union.
When asked in 2024 whether he could foresee such a move in his lifetime, Starmer said: “No. I don’t think that that is going to happen. I’ve been really clear about not rejoining the EU, the single market or the customs union.”
Brexit Impact On London Workforce And Economy Highlighted
In his latest comments, Khan described the UK’s eventual return to the EU as “inevitable”, arguing that the consequences of Brexit are becoming increasingly evident.
He said: “We’ve now seen what happens when you’re outside the European Union: less investment in the UK, less exports to the European Union.
“But let me speak from experience. You know, since 2019, and it breaks my heart, I’ve seen Londoners who are EU nationals leaving London.
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“We had in 2019 more than 840,000 EU Londoners working in London. That’s gone down to now 700,000, that means 140,000 Londoners have left London, and the two biggest sectors they’ve left concerned construction and hospitality.
“And these are Romanians, Polish, Italian, French, Irish Londoners, who’ve left their friends. They’ve left their neighbours. As a consequence, we’ve suffered economically, in construction, hospitality, but also we’ve suffered socially and culturally as well.”
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