Former Prime Minister Sir John Major has called for the United Kingdom to rejoin the European Union’s single market within the next five years, urging the government to be transparent about both the benefits and the costs of such a move. Speaking in an interview to mark the 10th anniversary of the EU referendum, Major argued that closer ties with Europe should be a central priority for the next prime minister.
Major warned that the economic consequences of Brexit have been severe, citing figures suggesting the UK has lost approximately £100 billion in trade and £40 billion in tax revenue annually as a direct result of leaving the EU. He referenced analysis from the Bank of England indicating the British economy is between 6 and 8 percent smaller than it would have been without Brexit. “Every man and woman in the UK is worse off financially,” Major said, characterizing the promises made by Brexit campaigners as empty slogans that have failed to materialize.
The former Conservative leader strongly criticized prominent figures behind the Brexit campaign, including Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, and Nigel Farage. He accused them of making impossible promises about reclaiming sovereignty and economic prosperity, while in reality millions of people have experienced financial setbacks. Major particularly singled out the “Take Back Control” slogan as misleading, noting that complete sovereignty is an unrealistic ideal, using North Korea as an example of a fully sovereign yet isolated state.
While Major acknowledged there is no immediate prospect of the UK rejoining the EU, he expressed optimism about the long-term direction of public opinion, noting that 68 percent of people now think Brexit was a mistake. He attributed the original leave vote largely to older voters and suggested that younger generations may pave the way for renewed integration with Europe. However, he cautioned that any attempt to rejoin the single market would require accepting a number of EU rules, including freedom of movement, which he acknowledged could be politically sensitive.
In addition to his comments on Brexit, Major shared his views on current political figures, expressing concerns about the leadership prospects of Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative frontrunner Andy Burnham, while praising Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for unifying her party.
Major also criticized Nigel Farage’s political strategy and called for greater transparency regarding a £5 million donation Farage received from foreign sources. Calling Farage’s Reform UK party lacking in positive vision, Major said it relied chiefly on migration issues for its support, despite migration levels declining and Farage’s vote share falling.
The former prime minister underscored that rejoining the EU single market should be approached carefully and with broad public support, emphasizing it would be a lengthy process. He urged open discussion now to prepare for the challenges ahead, describing the UK’s future relationship with Europe as crucial to national prosperity.