Report Urges UK to Rejoin EU Amid Global Threats

The United Kingdom should pursue European Union membership as a medium-term objective to better confront international challenges, according to a report released on Monday by the IPPR think tank. The analysis suggests that the current global political landscape requires a scale of economic strength, security, and influence that Britain cannot achieve independently.

Global Threats and UK's Position

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The report, published by the Institute for Public Policy Research, argues that the world has changed significantly since the UK's post-Brexit strategy was formulated. It states that Britain lacks the necessary scale to effectively address issues such as Russian aggression, perceived unreliability from the United States, and Chinese coercion. This perceived lack of scale restricts the UK's sovereignty and its capacity for independent action, as reported by The Standard.

Harry Quilter-Pinner, IPPR's executive director, was quoted in the report stating, "The world Britain built its post-Brexit strategy for no longer exists." He added, "We are entering an age in which economic strength, security and political influence increasingly depend on scale, and Britain cannot manufacture that scale on its own."

Public Opinion and Future Steps

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Polling conducted by Persuasion UK in June found that 52% of people supported rejoining the EU, while 29% were opposed. The think tank suggested that arguments concerning freedom of movement have diminished in importance, and concerns about "betraying" the 2016 referendum result are also less prominent. However, the report noted that contributions to the EU budget and the potential replacement of the pound with the euro could still negatively impact support for membership.

The IPPR report proposes that the government could work towards membership by collaborating with the EU on defence, manufacturing, and democratic resilience. It suggests that seeking inclusion in the EU’s “Made in Europe” scheme, which prioritises European firms for public contracts, could be a step in this direction. The government has indicated that such inclusion would be welcomed but may necessitate alignment with EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, potentially impacting net zero targets.

Government Response

A government spokesman commented on the existing Brexit deal, stating, "The threadbare Brexit deal inherited by this government has weakened our ability to control illegal immigration, slowed growth and left businesses tangled in red tape." The spokesman added, "We are working on practical deals that pay off for British farmers and families and will support growth in every UK postcode, cutting back on paperwork and easing pressure on prices."

The Prime Minister is scheduled to outline options for Britain’s long-term relationship with Europe at the UK-EU summit in Brussels on 20 November. Rejoining the bloc is expected to be among the possibilities presented.