Brexiteers warn Labour over EU realignment and Brexit principles

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Leading Brexit supporters, including prominent Conservative figures, gathered in London to warn against Labour’s moves toward renewed EU cooperation that they see as undermining the 2016 referendum result. This event highlights deep divisions within UK politics as Brexiteers push to preserve the referendum’s mandate amid Labour’s internal debates over future EU relations.

Leading figures supporting Brexit convened in London to caution the government against reversing the results of the 2016 referendum, which marked the largest democratic vote in the United Kingdom's history. The gathering, held during the Freedom Association’s Brexit Unleashed conference on Monday, featured prominent Conservative voices voicing strong opposition to Labour’s perceived shift toward closer ties with the European Union.

Lord Redwood, a Conservative peer and noted Thatcherite, criticized the current Labour administration, led by Keir Starmer, for seeking what he described as “realignment” with Brussels. He argued that such moves undermine the principles of Brexit and the country’s economic independence. Redwood specifically condemned Labour’s industrial policies, claiming they threaten traditional British exports, and called on former Labour leader Ed Miliband to abandon plans to halt oil and gas extraction in the North Sea. “You do not make Britain great by closing our oil wells and our ceramics factories and importing it instead,” Redwood said, urging the government to leverage the powers secured through Brexit rather than seeking closer EU integration.

Labour faces internal debates over the country’s relationship with the EU. Leadership contenders Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham have publicly advocated for rejoining the bloc, reflecting a broader party discourse on European alignment. However, their stance has drawn sharp criticism from the Brexiteer contingent, who argue such positions conflict with the democratic mandate represented by the referendum.

Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith, also speaking at the event, issued a pointed warning to the Labour Party, stating it “must never win” an election with plans that could overturn Brexit. He insisted Labour lacks a mandate to negate the referendum’s outcome, reinforcing concerns about potential policy reversals.

The conference also included remarks from Lord Frost, the former chief Brexit negotiator credited with securing the UK’s departure deal with the EU. The event highlighted ongoing divisions over the future of Britain’s EU relationship as the political landscape intensifies surrounding upcoming elections, including the Makerfield by-election, which has the potential to reopen debates on Brexit’s legacy.

Within the Labour ranks, perspectives on EU membership appear fluid, underscored by British MP Graham Stringer’s jocular remarks at the event, poking fun at Andy Burnham’s shifting positions on the matter. These contradictions reflect broader uncertainty within Labour over how closely to align with Brussels moving forward.

The assembly underscored the growing polarization within UK politics regarding Brexit’s long-term trajectory, with Brexiteers urging the government to uphold the referendum’s outcome and resist perceived pressures to resume closer ties with the European Union.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.