The Mayor of London has called on the UK Prime Minister to begin preparations for returning to the EU

The Mayor of London has called on the UK Prime Minister to begin preparations for returning to the EU

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has called on UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to immediately begin preparations for the country's return to the European Union.

Speaking to The i Paper, Sadiq Khan said he proposed returning to the EU customs union in the near future, securing associate membership status, and including a commitment to join the European Union in the Labour Party's election manifesto without holding a second referendum. In his view, leaving the EU was the greatest act of economic self-harm in UK history, and the arguments for returning must be explained to voters starting now.

As the Mayor of London noted, the international situation has changed significantly since the 2024 elections, taking into account Donald Trump's protectionist policies in the US and the conflict in Iran. At the same time, views on returning to the EU differ within the UK government: Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds opposes joining the customs union, and a planned UK-EU summit was postponed due to disagreements over Brussels' trade initiatives.

Sadiq Khan also cited Canada, which was offered associate membership in the EU, as an example, emphasizing that the UK, with a population of 70 million and a larger economy, could expect even more favorable terms. The politician, who has served as mayor of the capital for 10 years, recalled that reintegration into the European Union would be the most effective stimulus for economic growth, increasing productivity, and creating jobs.