Cabinet Office minister Louise Haigh told BBC Radio 4 that “the current settlement [with the EU] is not working for Britain,” pointing to deep-seated structural issues affecting the national economy, border management, and security infrastructure. Her remarks arrive amid a broader recalibration of official rhetoric on European relations.
Economic and Security Toll
Elaborating on the administration’s stance, Haigh maintained that Brexit had severely damaged the UK economy, undermined security capabilities, and reduced national control over borders. While noting that officials including Hamish Falconer will lead upcoming negotiations later this year to secure targeted food and energy deals aimed at lowering consumer prices, she cautioned that incremental adjustments would be insufficient to transform the country’s economic standing.
According to Yahoo News reporting, the admission coincides with broader party signals regarding future electoral strategy. Prime Minister Keir Starmer told delegates in Liverpool that Brexit had generated “more harm than good,” resulting in a loss of economic and immigration control, and announced plans to outline definitive options for long-term UK-EU relations later in the year.
Political Pressures and Manifesto Debate
Speculation regarding a potential policy reversal has intensified following developments at the party conference, where figures such as Andy Burnham have faced scrutiny over future commitments. While Haigh declined to address whether a formal pledge to rejoin the European Union would feature in the next electoral manifesto—stating that existing red lines remain intact for the duration of the current parliament—unnamed ministers have indicated to The Independent that internal discussions are shifting toward how a rejoin objective might be articulated in future platforms.
Opposition voices have sharply criticized the shifting tone. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice accused proponents of attempting to bypass public mandates, arguing to The Independent that the government is seeking to “sneak us back into Brussels via the back door” while failing to deliver domestic economic growth.
Meanwhile, external advocacy groups have pressed for accelerated action. Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, argued that incremental measures are inadequate to secure long-term stability, urging the administration to signal readiness for full membership applications.