A senior London Labour MP has suggested the UK could rejoin the European Union without holding a second referendum by placing the commitment inside an election manifesto.
Dame Emily Thornberry has argued that Britain could reverse Brexit without putting the decision to another direct public vote.
Manifesto option urged over referendum
The Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury stated that placing a policy to rejoin the European Union inside Labour’s manifesto at the next general election, expected in 2029, would give voters a democratic choice.
Insisting that rebuilding European ties should not be treated as a sacred cow, she told broadcasters that a general election platform would provide the necessary mandate.
I don’t think we need to have another referendum, but what we can do is have it in the manifesto, and then people can have a choice.
Dame Emily Thornberry, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury
Asked how rejoining could be justified without a dedicated ballot, Dame Emily called for bypassing a second referendum altogether.
I would say let’s not bother with another referendum. Let’s just have it as a general election (issue).
London Labour MPs attack Brexit
The comments come amid growing demands from London Mayor Lord Sadiq Khan for the UK to return to the EU, while Prime Minister Andy Burnham has put options on the table including rejoining the Single Market, the Customs Union, or full membership.
The push has drawn fierce condemnation from opposition parties, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticising Prime Minister Burnham for trying to unpick the original Brexit deal, alongside backlash from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
On their first day back in Parliament, several London MPs aligned to criticize the 2016 vote, in which the capital backed Remain by 60 to 40 percent.
Ealing Southall Labour MP Deirdre Costigan claimed Leave voters were misled prior to the referendum, stating that millions had been:
bombarded with lies, from the mythical £350 million a week for the NHS that never appeared to the lie that immigration would come down when it actually trebled
Battersea Labour MP Marsha De Cordova also condemned the withdrawal, referencing Office for Budget Responsibility figures showing billions wiped off British trade.
an unmitigated disaster that has left us poorer
Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate Tulip Siddiq added that local businesses had been forced to close due to the economic fallout of leaving the bloc.
Economic targets set for Brussels
Prime Minister Burnham has emphasized plans to rebuild ties with Brussels, claiming upcoming talks could significantly impact the economy.
- 2016 referendum: London voted 60 to 40 in favour of remaining in the EU.
- November 20 summit: UK-EU talks projected to potentially boost the UK economy by £10 billion a year.
- 2029 expectation: The target year for the next UK general election.
Prime Minister Burnham also accused Russia of attempting to interfere in the Brexit referendum, though he noted those efforts failed to alter the final result.
From the business sector, Alex Freudmann, managing director of M&S Food, backed a deal to cut food and drink red tape, stating it would deliver fresher food and fuller shelves while lifting the pressure of the weekly shop.