Sir Sadiq Khan has urged Labour to campaign to rejoin the EU at the next election – without giving Britain a dedicated referendum on reversing Brexit.
The London Mayor declared Britain’s return to the EU was “inevitable” during an interview with Italy’s La Repubblica Magazine, as he set out a five-point plan to see Britain return to the EU.
Sir Sadiq told the Italian outlet: “I’m quite clear. I see on a daily basis the damage Brexit has done – not just to London, but to Londoners.
“Economically, socially and culturally the damage is humongous.”
“We should fight the next General Election with a clear manifesto commitment – a vote for Labour means we would rejoin the European Union.”
However, the London Mayor insisted that the Government should not wait until 2029 to begin the process.
He urged Sir Keir Starmer to “rejoin the customs union this parliament” and “try to rejoin the single market as well”.
Sir Sadiq also claimed a reversal of Brexit would be the best solution to tackling the cost-of-living-crisis.
Sir Sadiq Khan has urged Labour to campaign on a promise to reverse Brexit at the next general election
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“We’ve now seen the alternative – less investment, less exports, families and businesses suffering,” he said.
The London Mayor also fumed at the departure of more than 140,000 EU nationals from London since Britain officially left the bloc.
He said: “It breaks my heart… These are people who were our neighbours, our friends.”
Sir Sadiq went on to describe Britain’s return to EU membership as “inevitable”.
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The London Mayor fumed at the departure of more than 140,000 EU nationals from London
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He said: “The question is why delay it – why have additional years of pain outside the European Union?
“It’s like being outside a tennis club but wanting to use the courts whenever you like. Why not just be a member again?”
The London Mayor’s pleas to the Government come amid the Prime Minister’s “reset” talks with the EU, which seek to bolster trade arrangements to improve relations with Brussels.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared last week the UK “should absolutely align” with Brussels and that Brexit has “not been good for Britain”.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared last week the UK ‘should absolutely align’ with Brussels
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Speaking to The Times ahead of her Mais lecture in the City of London this week, she said the EU represented the “biggest prize” for boosting Britain’s stagnant economic growth.
Ms Reeves also said that she believes Britain’s future is “closely intertwined with that of Europe”.
In December, the Government announced a return to the Erasmus student exchange programme, which saw an estimated 250,000 EU students come to Britain between 2010 and 2020.
The EU scheme is estimated to have costed the British taxpayer £200million every year.