Voices: ‘We need a referendum’: Readers respond to Sir John Major’s call to rejoin EU single market within five years

‘We need a referendum’: Readers respond to Sir John Major’s call to rejoin EU single market within five years Sir John Major’s call for Britain to rejoin the single market within five years has sparked fierce debate among readers on everything from democratic mandates and economic impact to the political and practical challenges of closer alignment with the EU - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments As debate continues over Sir John Major’s call for Britain to rejoin the single market within five years, made as part of The Independent’s Europe: The Way Back campaign, readers have been reacting to the proposal with a wide range of views on Brexit, the economy and Britain’s future relationship with the EU. While some argued that a referendum is essential before any major constitutional change, others said a general election should be the real test, with parties setting out their positions clearly in their manifestos and letting voters decide. On the practicalities of rejoining, several readers picked up on Sir John’s warning that any move back towards the single market would come with a “price” — including acceptance of EU rules and the return of freedom of movement. Some said these conditions would make re-entry politically difficult or unrealistic, while others suggested that shifting public opinion and future leadership could eventually make closer alignment with the EU more achievable. Here’s what you had to say: Ask the people There is nothing wrong with the former Prime Minister and ardent Remainer asking that we rejoin the Single Market, is there? He is not alone in that. Yes, it would mean disregarding the referendum and reversing some core principles of Brexit, but undoubtedly a large section of the country want that. At the same time, another large section of the country wants to respect Brexit. The right course of action in a democracy is to ask the people. The last time these numbers were tested, the latter group were larger by a million. But one has to be open to the argument that over the years, people may have changed their mind. I would argue, therefore, that a retest is in order. Let us do the retest at the next general election. Let the Remain-favouring parties put rejoining on their manifesto and Brexit-favouring parties put retaining Brexit on their manifesto. And let us hear what the country wants, and act For exclusive analysis on how Britain can rebuild its relationship with Europe, sign up for our weekly Europe: The Way Back newsletter here The EU won’t want a divided nation in their club Wise words from John Major. I can’t speak for the EU, but if I were in charge, I wouldn’t want a divided nation in the club, arguing over two ideologies I don’t want, so he is right that the argument must first be won, and that is likely to take some time – the country had to face bankruptcy last time before rejecting mutual opposition and embracing a shared future. We need a referendum Before there are any substantive changes to our relationship with the EU, we require a referendum; otherwise, Brexit leave areas will forever be leave, and remain will forever be remain. It is a decision that is too important for a general election when it is wrapped up with other issues. And politicians have a habit of being far too short-term to make such a large change of reversing the Boris deal without a new mandate. We are far too important a country in the world to have to accept some halfway house friction-free trade but without any decision on our destiny and future shape of that arrangement. Europe: The Way Back We’re campaigning to rebuild Britain’s future in Europe Burnham is the wrong PM for pro-EU people We should rejoin the single market as soon as possible. The big problem with Andy Burnham is that having just won a Brexity seat he is not going to be the right person to take the lead on it. He will be too worried about losing the seat he just won. I have commented before that he will be the wrong PM for pro-EU people. It will all just be tax, borrow and squander if Ed Miliband becomes chancellor rather than boosting the economy through rejoining the single market. We can’t just tax and borrow our way to wealth. This country needs a proper economic plan and rejoining the single market will be a good start. I voted for Labour in 2024, but that was Keir Starmer promising growth now derailed by Trump’s misguided war in Iran. After years of turmoil I didn’t want him to quit. Any dramatic change of direction needs a general election to gain a democratic mandate or risk damage to our democracy as well as the legitimacy of this government at home and abroad. Music to my ears I fully remember the total disbelief and horror of viewing the referendum results live on TV pre-dawn 10 years ago. Neither my husband, any siblings/in-laws nor I were pro-Brexit in any way, shape or form! In addition to this, 99 per cent of our friends and neighbours also voted in favour of “Remain”. Brexit voters won by a very narrow margin, as we’ve always known. Moving on, 10 years later, it’s crystal clear that Brexit is a dismal failure! The nationalistic fervour behind choosing to distance ourselves from the rest of Europe never made any economic sense. Why on earth was it decided to limit the export of our goods to our European neighbours when, in geographic terms, their lands are so much closer to the UK and therefore arranging the transportation of multiple goods to various EU sites was surely preferable to sourcing other, less accessible outlets!? Current discussions relating to the rebuilding and strengthening of our educational, trading and travel links in the near future with the EU are “music to my ears”..... We must address the real reason for Brexit The reason we had Brexit had nothing to do with taking back control or leaving the single market or the customs union. Those were just the fig leaves. The one and only reason people wanted Brexit was to stop migrants, including from Eastern Europe coming here. So until we find a way of controlling immigration and stopping illegal migration completely, these people will never be satisfied. Of course, those who orchestrated Brexit did so for two reasons, money and power. And they said anything and promised everything, because lying came naturally to Johnson and Farage. Corbyn had his own misguided reasons, but those like him were a minority. For the majority it was about not having people who didn’t look or sound like them. They had no economic or other grounds. So if we want to get back into Europe we have to address this issue. Otherwise, all our arguments on economics, jobs, etc are useless. The benefits of having left will continue to accrue Since we voted to leave the declining, anti-democratic, power-grabbing EU political union, the UK has outperformed our peers in the EU political union; Germany, France and Italy, and is forecast by the IMF and even by the OBR, to continue to do so. We’ve moved up from 7th to 4th biggest exporter in the world and we’re the second biggest exporter of services in the world behind only the US. Further free trade deals will be signed and existing ones will be upgraded and improved. The benefits of having left will continue to accrue and increase for years to come. And we haven’t even had a government yet that truly supports Brexit and will fully capitalise on it. We’ll get one of those after the next general election when Labour are booted out. No party that advocates trying to tie us back into the EU political union will be winning it. Every single member state will have a shopping list of concessions “But Sir John said it was an important step in repairing the broken relationship and should pave the way for a longer-term goal of fully rejoining the EU.” This implicitly assumes that is the goal. Brexit was fundamentally not an economic decision. There is zero appetite in the country at large for signing up to unrestricted free movement. Rejoining the EU itself would mean having to take ‘our share’ of all illegals entering the EU, not just the ones that make it across the Channel. We would have to join Schengen, join the euro, and pay over £20bn a year in membership fees. Barnier can claim all he likes that he sees no reason we couldn’t reclaim our original membership terms with all the opt-outs, but he no longer speaks for the EU, and if you believe this, I have a bridge to sell you. Every single member state will have a shopping list of concessions they would demand the UK make, or they would exercise their individual vetoes. How much of the national silver are you willing to give away, just so you don’t have to queue up at passport control? Watch The Independent editor-in-chief Geordie Greig in conversation with Sir John Major in full below: Negotiations would take years I doubt the member states would be keen to have their most disruptive former member back in the fold. As soon as that is proposed, it will be undermined by the Tories and their allies on the extreme right who will promise withdrawal once they assume government (if ever). Britain could try to extend its present agreement with the EU, but even that would be opposed and would generate financial and commercial destabilisation. Even if there were agreement that the UK should apply to rejoin, the negotiations would take years and would waste several prime ministers! As an EU Citizen I would be very cagey about Britain rejoining! Some of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity. Want to share your views? Simply click ‘log in’ or ‘register’ in the top right corner to sign in or sign up. Once registered, you can comment on the day’s top stories for a chance to have your opinions showcased Want your voice to stand out? Independent Premium subscribers enjoy priority for featured comments. Subscribe here Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines, which can be found here. 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