John Major has proposed that the United Kingdom seek to rejoin the European Union’s single market within the next five years, stopping short of full EU membership. Major, who served as prime minister from 1990 to 1997 and was a prominent Remain advocate during the 2016 Brexit referendum alongside Tony Blair, acknowledged the government’s existing red lines and presented this approach as a pragmatic way to rebuild closer economic ties with Europe.
Major pointed out that the UK could emulate countries such as Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland, which participate in the EU single market without being EU members. He explained that such an arrangement would require negotiations, potentially more complex for the UK due to its larger economy and the unique status of Northern Ireland, which currently remains within both the EU single market and customs union under the Brexit settlement.
Under this model, the UK would need to accept relevant EU laws and regulations as they evolve, including commitments to the free movement of labor and capital, to ensure barrier-free trade in goods. This concept, known as “dynamic alignment,” would maintain seamless trade relations but necessitate continued regulatory compliance. A financial contribution to the EU budget, proportional to the UK’s size, would also be expected, possibly amounting to billions annually.
Major emphasized the urgency of this proposal in light of new EU internal policies, such as the draft “Made in Europe” strategy, which he described as protectionist and potentially damaging to British sectors like automotive manufacturing.
Remaining outside the EU customs union would allow the UK to pursue independent trade agreements, though it would need measures to prevent non-EU standard products from entering the EU market through the UK. Fisheries, a contentious issue during the Brexit negotiations, could also be excluded from single market rules, given existing treaty provisions.
Importantly, this approach would not obligate the UK to adopt the euro, participate in the EU’s political institutions, or comply with EU policies on issues such as refugee resettlement. While services are less encompassed within the single market framework, the City of London’s financial sector has reportedly adapted well to Brexit, with some observers suggesting it benefits from regulatory independence despite increased risks.
Several challenges to this plan remain. Domestically, there are ideological and policy differences between UK priorities and EU regulations, particularly on matters like genetically modified organisms and digital sector governance, where the UK tends toward a more permissive approach. Critics argue that dynamic alignment would render the UK a “rule-taker” without voting rights in EU decision-making bodies, a point highlighted by government minister Kemi Badenoch. The role of the European Court of Justice in enforcing single market rules also remains a contentious issue.
From the EU perspective, concerns persist over the stability of such an agreement, given the risk that future UK governments might reverse commitments in the event of political changes, potentially undermining trust and long-term cooperation.
Major’s proposal invites debate over how to balance sovereignty, economic interests, and political realities in the evolving post-Brexit relationship between the UK and the EU.