Brexit betrayal fears surge as Rejoin petition hits huge milestone | Politics | News
A petition urging Britain to reapply to join the EU has passed 100,000 signatures, forcing Parliament to consider a debate and increasing pressure on Sir Keir Starmer’s Labor government to abandon its Brexit red lines. The petition, titled “Apply to rejoin the EU as soon as possible to boost growth in the UK,” was launched in December by Robert McMaster of Berkshire for Europe, part of the European Action UK network. This milestone was reached on Wednesday, becoming the second petition to reach the threshold under the current government.
Mr McMaster claimed Brexit had “failed” and a “clear majority” now wanted to return. Mr McMaster said: “Ten years after the Brexit vote and six years after the UK left the EU, it has become clear that the UK public no longer supports leaving the EU.” He called on pro-EU groups to prepare discussions on the terms of reunification, even if they were less positive than before. UK European Movement President Dr. Mike Galsworthy added that support for full membership had “become stronger and more determined”.
However, a YouGov poll published this week, based on fieldwork between 20-22 May 2026, shows 56% support rejoining, while 35% oppose. In 2016 support among Leave voters stood at just 22%. A separate finding from YouGov suggests that the public will be clearly opposed to rejoining if the UK cannot abandon key preferences such as retaining the pound sterling.
Support for maintaining the current relationship post-Brexit is clearly negative, while further loosening of ties is supported by only 19%. The single market or customs union, a closer relationship beyond reunification, gets 70% support.
The petition’s progress revives memories of last year’s three-hour parliamentary debate, in which most MPs in attendance criticized the government’s stance on Brexit. Organizers plan more petitions every six months to keep the momentum going.
Prime Minister Sir Keir has sought a limited “renewal” with the EU, including post-summit agreements on agri-food, energy and emissions trading designed to ease certain barriers to re-entering the bloc or its core structures. The Prime Minister has repeatedly insisted that Britain will not rejoin the EU, single market or customs union, framing the changes as pragmatic improvements that respect the referendum results.
But senior figures in the Labor Party are openly questioning this stance. Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, a leading candidate for the party leadership, described Brexit as a “devastating mistake” that left Britain “less rich, less powerful and less in control”.
Mr Streeting argued that Britain’s long-term future “lies in the European Union” and called for a new “special relationship” as a step towards that goal.
Brexit supporters see such comments as evidence of a slow betrayal of the 2016 vote that gave a 52-48 majority to leave. Reform Voters in the UK are staunchly opposed to closer integration.
The government responded to the petition, which initially reached 10,000 signatures, by clearly stating: “The United Kingdom will not rejoin the EU.” Campaigners claim the public mood has changed since then, but polls show support for rejoining remains well below the decisive majorities seen in the original Brexit referendum.
Mr McMaster called on petition signers to lobby MPs with personal stories about the alleged impact of Brexit ahead of any debate. European Action UK hopes dozens more MPs will use the platform to challenge the Government.
Critics of rejoining say that joining the EU would likely demand acceptance of the full range of EU laws, potentially including the euro and Schengen, without Britain’s previous opt-outs. A separate survey showed clear public opposition under these conditions.
As the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum approaches, the petition marks another flashpoint in the ongoing battle over Britain’s relations with the EU.
Sir Keir’s reset has been attacked on the one hand as inadequate, and on the other as the beginning of a comeback. With economic arguments on both sides and Leave voters still a significant bloc, any move towards reunification risks reopening deep national divisions.
