Labour leader’s Brexit stance shifts

The British Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, included Brexit as a fixed point in the party's 2024 electoral program, signaling a clear stance against rejoining the EU. This commitment was meant to reassure pro-Brexit supporters that the party would not reverse the 2016 referendum outcome.

Prime minister’s speech sparks surprise

During his speech at the Labour Party conference in late September, the current prime minister made a sudden and unexpected shift on Brexit, appearing to pivot away from the party's official position. This move caught many by surprise and was described by The Guardian as a dramatic reversal.

Labour’s limited room for negotiation

The Guardian notes that Starmer’s firm commitments on Brexit have left him with little flexibility in negotiations with European partners. These promises, which go beyond mere rhetoric, are seen as binding and non-negotiable by the Labour leadership.

Public openness to revisiting Brexit

A recent survey by The Messina Group found that nearly half of the British electorate share the Labour leader Andy Burnham’s personal inclination to consider rejoining the EU after the next election. This suggests a growing openness among the public to re-examining Brexit.

Potential electoral benefits for Labour

According to the same survey, if the prime minister were to propose a new referendum on EU membership and campaign for reintegration, the Labour Party could see a significant boost in its electoral support, potentially gaining up to 7 percentage points in the polls.