Hope again. That was the prime minister’s message to the country this week. A national social care system, greater public control of water and energy, help for first-time buyers, and a crackdown on rogue landlords and empty homes. With clarity and conviction, Andy Burnham set out a bold plan to put Britain on a new path, rooted in Labour values. It felt like a conference speech that would be remembered for years, marking a decisive break from a broken political model that has failed the British people for decades. Perhaps most encouraging was the prime minister’s promise to rethink Britain’s relationship with the EU.
Burnham’s words were simple but stark: “Brexit has done more harm than good.” He is right – and the reality of the vote’s impact on the UK is sobering. Research commissioned by City Hall in 2024 showed that London’s economy was £30bn smaller than it would have been without Brexit, and that the UK had nearly 2 million fewer jobs as a result of leaving. Earlier this year, we published new analysis showing that our country has grown more slowly than comparable European countries since 2016. If that trend continues, our economy could be £250bn smaller than similar EU countries’ by 2030.
Ten years after the referendum, the sunlit uplands promised by Brexiters have proven to be a complete fiction. Instead, Britain finds itself battling an economic and geopolitical storm. Earlier this year, I warned that Donald Trump’s bombing of Iran could have catastrophic consequences for Londoners, and it gives me no pleasure to be proved right. The folly of this reckless war of choice is now clear for all to see. The conflict is sending shock waves through the global economy, driving up mortgage costs and fuel prices. The price of diesel has hit an all-time high of nearly £2 per litre, while energy bills are forecast to rise 25% this winter, piling unbearable pressure on many households across the UK already struggling with a cost-of-living crisis.
I heard one thing loud and clear in Andy Burnham’s landmark speech: the left has won the arguments | Owen Jones Read more
At the same time, Trump’s fondness for unilateralism has shaken the foundations of the transatlantic alliance on which our national security depends. As Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, continues his illegal and unconscionable full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Trump’s unpredictable actions and unsettling ambivalence toward European security can no longer be ignored.
In this geopolitical storm, Europe offers us not just a safe harbour but a huge opportunity for growth. The EU is our biggest trading partner and our most reliable ally. That’s why, at the UK-EU summit in November, I will call on the government to lay the groundwork for Britain’s swift return to both the customs union and the single market – a move that should happen within this parliament.
Rejoining the customs union and the single market would deliver an immediate boost to economic growth, improving living standards for communities across the country and giving Londoners some relief from the most acute cost-of-living pressures. In the long term, however, we must raise our ambitions even higher. Our party must immediately start making the case for rejoining the EU, so we can fight and win a general election with EU membership effectively on the ballot paper in 2029.
The brutal truth is that leaving the EU was the biggest act of economic and geopolitical self-harm in our country’s history. Rejoining is the only viable path to long-term prosperity and security. Anything less will fail to undo the severe damage that has been done. For far too long, the Labour party’s debate about Europe has been constrained by “red lines” that make rebuilding our relationship with the EU impossible. But Burnham has now recognised that these lines were drawn up for a different world. In Canada, Mark Carney has set out his plan to partner much more clClosely with the EU on defence, critical minerals, and energy security, with the country now on the path to becoming the bloc’s first associate member. In this multipolar world, middle powers such as Canada, the UK, and our European neighbours must come together, both to safeguard our own security and economies and to stand up for free trade and our liberal democratic values.
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Deeper integration can – and will – unlock a new age of growth and productivity, but it will also give us a louder voice on the world stage. From strengthening our military defences to safely developing AI and fighting the climate crisis, if we want to be heard, we must speak as one. And in a world whose superpowers seem ever more comfortable with throwing their weight around, the EU is the only organisation with the economic and geopolitical heft to hold its own.
For me, the most memorable line in Burnham’s speech came a couple of minutes in: “Hope comes from honesty.” They were the words of a leader unafraid to change the terms of Britain’s dysfunctional political debate by taking on the seemingly intractable problems that too many would be inclined to avoid.
Today, Brexit is foremost among those problems. If we are to bring back hope, we must be honest about the disastrous costs of our decision to leave the EU. And we must be honest about the fact that reversing it is the best chance we have to get Britain back on track – and get the country firing on all cylinders again.
Sadiq Khan is mayor of London
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of frequently asked questions based on the article by Sadiq Khan regarding Andy Burnhams stance on honesty and Labours position on the EU
Beginner Questions
Q What is Sadiq Khan arguing in this article
A He is arguing that for Labour to win back trust they must be honest about the damage Brexit has done He believes the party should make the case for rejoining the European Union rather than staying quiet to avoid controversy
Q Who is Andy Burnham
A Andy Burnham is the Mayor of Greater Manchester and a prominent figure in the Labour Party He is often mentioned as a potential future leader of the party
Q What does hope comes from honesty mean in this context
A It means that politicians cannot fix problems by pretending they dont exist Khan argues that by admitting Brexit isnt working and being honest about the need to rejoin the EU Labour can give people a real reason to hope for a better future
Q What is rejoining the EU
A This means the UK applying to become a member of the European Union again reversing the decision made in the 2016 Brexit referendum This would involve accepting EU laws and freedom of movement again
Q Why is Sadiq Khan talking about this now
A He believes that the current situationwhere the UK is outside the EU but still follows many of its rulesis bad for the economy He wants Labour to be bold and offer a clear alternative to the current governments policies
Advanced Questions
Q What is the specific political risk for Labour in discussing EU membership
A The main risk is alienating voters in Red Wall constituenciestraditional Labour areas in the North and Midlands that voted heavily for Brexit in 2016 Labour fears that talking about rejoining the EU will be seen as ignoring the democratic result of the referendum potentially costing them seats in a general election
Q What does Khan mean by the case for rejoining
A He means building a logical and emotional argument that focuses on the economic benefits of the Single Market and Customs Union This includes fixing trade barriers lowering food prices and boosting growth which he argues are necessary to fund public services
