Lord Redwood, a veteran Conservative figure and former chief policy adviser to Margaret Thatcher, has voiced strong opposition to the prospect of the United Kingdom rejoining the European Union. Speaking amid renewed debate over Britain’s future relationship with Brussels, Redwood cautioned that re-entry would result in a loss of national freedom and increased financial burdens.

Redwood, who currently serves as a member of the House of Lords and is involved with Britain Unbound, a cross-party initiative promoting a new vision for the UK, underscored his belief that Britain’s prosperity lies outside the EU framework. Reflecting on his career, including his time as an MP for Wokingham and his 1995 Conservative leadership challenge against John Major, Redwood stressed that he remains aligned with the Conservative Party, particularly under the leadership of Kemi Badenoch. He described Badenoch as the most exciting Conservative leader since Thatcher and said her vision has renewed his enthusiasm for the party, despite previous disagreements.

Highlighting his admiration for Thatcher’s pragmatism rather than purely ideological stance, Redwood recalled her personal concern for individuals and focus on policies that benefited the public and the nation. He credited Thatcher’s approach with fostering ideas that promoted freedom and prosperity, principles he continues to champion today.

Redwood warned that rejoining the EU would intensify policies he views as harmful, such as the bloc’s "net zero" environmental measures, which he said have driven deindustrialisation and harmed traditional industries with higher energy costs. He also objected to the loss of UK-specific animal welfare standards, including the ban on live animal exports, which EU membership could compel Britain to reverse. On financial matters, he emphasized that re-entry would involve substantial increased contributions to the EU budget.

He expressed confidence that any push for a second referendum on EU membership would be met with resistance from the British public, who he said oppose higher EU taxes and greater EU legislative control. Redwood criticized the Labour Party’s position favouring alignment with the EU, describing it as a “folly” that would exacerbate regulatory burdens and job losses.

Reflecting on the UK’s economic challenges compared with the United States and the EU, Redwood argued the UK should emulate American growth strategies rather than European models. He pointed to a significant gap in GDP per capita—$90,027 in the US compared with $57,607 in the UK and $47,089 across the EU—as evidence of this disparity, suggesting that higher taxes and extensive regulation in Europe suppress growth and wages.

Despite his criticisms, Redwood does not foresee the EU collapsing, predicting it will endure for the foreseeable future. He shared anecdotes of attempts by European interlocutors to persuade him to embrace pro-EU views, which he resisted, asserting that no foreign government should dictate Britain’s policies.

Regarding the rising prominence of Reform UK alongside the Conservatives on the centre-right, Redwood took a measured view. Acknowledging the electoral competition with figures like Nigel Farage, he described the ambitions of Reform UK and the Conservatives as healthy and left the ultimate decision to the electorate, expressing confidence in the British public’s common sense.

Overall, Redwood’s remarks underline a continued scepticism of the EU within influential Conservative circles, reflecting broader debates about the UK’s economic and political direction six years after Brexit.