Brexit-Hating Blob Accused of Plotting Britain’s Return to EU as Starmer Faces Crisis

Brexit veterans have accused a pro-EU “blob” inside Whitehall of exploiting Sir Keir Starmer’s weakness to push for the United Kingdom to rejoin the European Union.

Warning Over Pro-EU Push

The warning comes after Philip Rycroft, a former top civil servant at the Department for Exiting the European Union, said it is “time to talk about rejoining”. Sir Keir is expected to unveil legislation next month to ease trade with the EU by aligning UK law in areas such as animal health with Brussels regulations as part of his EU “reset”.

Calls for Closer Ties or Rejoin

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has called for Labour to go into the next election with a promise to rejoin the EU. Green Party leader Zack Polanski has said he is “very much” in favour of rejoining, while the SNP and Plaid Cymru want independence for Scotland and Wales within the bloc. Labour’s manifesto ruled out returning to the single market, customs union or freedom of movement, but senior figures including the Chancellor have blamed Brexit for Britain’s economic woes and supported closer alignment.

Strong Opposition from Brexit Figures

Former chief Brexit negotiator Lord Frost said: “Now that Starmer’s own position is under threat, the pro-EU forces in Labour see the opportunity and are combining with a bureaucratic establishment that never wanted to leave the EU in the first place.” Former Labour minister Baroness Hoey said: “Every time I hear someone like Rycroft call for us to rejoin it confirms my belief that it was because of senior civil servants like him that we wasted the opportunities presented by leaving.” She added that Starmer “may be on the way out but the blob inside Whitehall are desperate to rejoin”.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel warned that Sir Keir’s plans would result in the “worst of both worlds for hard-pressed British taxpayers”. Former Brexit minister David Jones said there is “no mandate for rejoining” and that alignment would be “a shameful retreat”. Mark Francois, chairman of the Conservative European Research Group, said the establishment is “still smarting over losing the EU referendum in 2016” and is hoping to persuade a beleaguered Labour Government that rejoining would be its salvation.

Dame Theresa Villiers described Sir Keir as a “floundering PM trying to blame Brexit for Labour economic failure”. John Longworth, former director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce and co-chair of Leave Means Leave, insisted Brexit has “been beneficial for the UK” but claimed a “weak PM and desperate Chancellor have given the pro-EU blob the opportunity to raise their ugly head”. Former Defence Secretary Dame Penny Mordaunt said the public will take a dim view of those trying to reverse the referendum result by stealth. Leading Thatcherite Lord Redwood warned that importing more EU laws, taxes and products would slow growth and make Britain rule-takers again.

What This Means for Britain

The row highlights continuing divisions over Britain’s relationship with the European Union more than a decade after the 2016 referendum. Brexiteers argue that senior figures in Whitehall and parts of the Labour Party are using the current political difficulties facing Sir Keir Starmer to advance plans for closer alignment or even rejoining the EU. They point to proposed legislation in the King’s Speech and comments from former officials as evidence of a coordinated effort to reverse or water down the result of the vote.

Supporters of closer ties say alignment would ease trade and help the economy. Labour has insisted rejoining is not on the cards and that it is simply seeking to make Brexit work. The Government has faced criticism from both sides of the debate, with some accusing it of moving too far towards the EU and others saying it is not going far enough.

The debate comes at a time when the UK is dealing with economic pressures including higher energy costs and the impact of global events. Public opinion on the EU remains split, and any moves towards greater alignment are likely to face strong resistance from those who supported leaving. The comments from senior politicians and former ministers show that Brexit continues to be a live issue in British politics, with both sides accusing the other of ignoring the will of the people expressed in the 2016 referendum.

As the King’s Speech approaches, the focus will be on exactly what legislation is included and how far it goes towards regulatory alignment with Brussels. The strength of feeling on both sides suggests the argument over Britain’s future relationship with the EU is far from over.

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This article is a factual summary of reporting by the Daily Express. Full original story available on their website. All quotes directly attributed.