The Rejoin Reveal? Labour Minister Hints at EU Membership on Next Manifesto

Hamish Falconer, the new Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations, has dropped a bombshell, suggesting that rejoining the European Union could be a policy commitment in Labour’s next general election manifesto. The comments, reported by Guido Fawkes, signal a potential seismic shift in the party’s post-Brexit strategy.

The Mask Slips: “Go Further” on Europe

The carefully constructed facade of Labour’s Brexit policy appears to be cracking. Hamish Falconer, a key figure in the Labour government, has openly hinted at the possibility of the party advocating for full EU rejoining in its next manifesto. This revelation emerged during an interview on Sky News, where Falconer discussed the ongoing efforts to “reset” the UK’s relationship with the European Union.

Falconer, who only took up his current ministerial brief in July 2026, stated that while the current work to improve ties with the EU is important, there is a clear need to “consolidate some of that work, but we also need to see how we can go further.” This phrase, innocuous on the surface, carries significant weight when uttered by a minister whose portfolio directly concerns European relations. It implies a trajectory that extends far beyond the current framework of cooperation.

Starmer’s Shifting Sands: A Decade On

The Minister’s remarks directly challenge the long-held Labour line, repeatedly articulated by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, that the party would not seek to rejoin the EU, the Single Market, or the Customs Union. However, Falconer carefully navigated this by acknowledging the 2016 referendum result, stating, “Look, we had this vote 10 years ago. It was the will of the country. It was the will of my own constituency as well. We’re not backsliding from that. The world has changed since 2016. We need to make sure that our relationship with Europe changes, too.”

“We’re not talking about rejoin today. What we do in our next manifesto will obviously be a question for the Labour Party.”

— Hamish Falconer, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations, Sky News

This nuanced position suggests that while the past mandate is acknowledged, the future relationship is open for re-evaluation based on evolving global circumstances. The implication is clear: what was once considered settled may now be up for debate, particularly as the economic realities of Brexit continue to bite.

The “Reset” Was Just the Start

Labour’s 2024 manifesto promised a “reset” of the UK-EU relationship, focusing on practical improvements like veterinary agreements and mutual recognition of professional qualifications, explicitly ruling out a return to the Single Market or Customs Union. However, internal party discussions have increasingly suggested that this initial “reset” was too cautious and lacked the ambition needed to genuinely benefit the UK economy.

Falconer’s comments provide the clearest indication yet that the Labour leadership may be preparing the ground for a more radical shift. The timing is crucial, as the next general election draws closer and the party will be formulating its platform. This could be a strategic leak, a deliberate attempt to gauge public reaction and test the waters for a policy that many within the party, and indeed a growing segment of the public, secretly desire.

• Hamish Falconer is Labour’s Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations.
• He suggested rejoining the EU could be on Labour’s *next* manifesto.
• Falconer stated Starmer’s EU “reset” needs to “go further.”
• Labour’s 2024 manifesto ruled out rejoining the Single Market or Customs Union.
• The Minister’s comments were made during a Sky News interview.
• This indicates a potential significant shift in Labour’s official Brexit stance.

This isn’t merely a slip of the tongue; it’s a deliberate signal from a senior Labour minister that the party is actively considering a return to the European Union. The “reset” was merely a stepping stone, and the true destination, for some in Labour, is full rejoin. The British public deserves honesty about these intentions, not carefully worded obfuscations.

Source: Guido Fawkes | Breaking Brexit News