Sadiq Khan has once more called for Britain to rejoin the European Union, labelling Brexit a ‘catastrophe’ for London.
The mayor of London has arguably been the most pro-EU senior figure in the Labour Party.
Even before Andy Burnham replaced Keir Starmer as prime minister, Lord Khan had been calling for Labour to pledge to rejoin the EU in their next manifesto.
In recent weeks, as Burnham has reignited hopes of reversing Brexit, Khan has issued pleas for an EU return, slamming the economic damage Brexit has had on the country and the lies that were told by the Leave campaign.
Now, Lord Khan has issued his strongest call yet for Britain to rejoin the EU, arguing that closer ties with the EU are more important than ever given the global instability.
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In a letter to the Minister for European Relations, Hamish Falconer, Lord Khan called for agreements with Europe on trade barriers for food and drink firms, energy and a youth mobility scheme, the Standard reports.
The mayor said: “Rejoining the EU must remain our destination.
“But there are also steps we can and must take now to rebuild our relationship with our European neighbours which would remove barriers to trade, grow our economy and improve living standards in the short-term.”
He has labelled Brexit the “greatest act of economic and geopolitical self-harm in our country’s history.”
“Since we voted to leave the EU, the evidence for Brexit’s catastrophic consequences for London and the UK has continued to mount,” Lord Khan wrote.
This comes after research commissioned by City Hall earlier this year found that London’s economy was £30 billion smaller thanks to Brexit.
Analysis from Goldman Sachs earlier this month concluded that returning to the EU would boost the British economy by £150bn.
Addressing the instability caused by the likes of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, Lord Khan wrote: “As Putin’s illegal and unconscionable invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth winter, President Trump’s unsettling ambivalence towards European security can no longer be ignored.
“His fondness for unilateralism has shaken the foundations of the transatlantic alliance, making the US an increasingly unpredictable and unreliable ally.
“And now, as his reckless war in Iran pushes up prices for British households, the folly of cutting ties with our closest neighbours is clearer than ever.
“In the geopolitical and economic storm we now find ourselves in, Europe offers Britain not just a safe harbour but a huge opportunity for growth. If we are to seize that opportunity, we must set our red lines aside and rebuild our relations with the EU.”
Lord Khan added: “I have been clear that rejoining the EU is the only viable path to long-term prosperity and security for our country.
“Most of the recent studies advocate for us to rejoin the European Union to mitigate as much of the damage incurred so far as possible.
“This would also unlock a new age of growth and productivity and strengthen the UK geopolitically at a time of increased global uncertainty.”