From the FT: Brexit’s Bregret: Challenges of rejoining the EU – Martin Wolf

Amidst a surge in UK public sentiment favouring EU reintegration, the path to rejoining remains fraught with pitfalls. While "Bregret" is palpable, former EU negotiator Michel Barnier warns of a changed EU landscape. The UK faces new uncertainties, political upheaval, and stringent EU demands. Reentering requires a commitment to Eurozone membership and heightened referendum thresholds. As the UK grapples with these complexities, a pragmatic approach, akin to Starmer's, towards closer cooperation with the EU seems the wisest course.

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Britain won't rejoin the EU for decades — if ever

By Martin Wolf

The sensible approach for the UK is to seek a closer and more co-operative relationship with Brussels

On two occasions in the past month, continental Europeans have asked me whether the UK will rejoin the EU. Not for many decades, if ever, I replied. This is so despite the shift in British opinion over the wisdom of Brexit. If the electorate had known in 2016 what it knows today it would have voted to remain. But it did not know. The result was a leap into the dark. But that leap happened. As the ancient philosopher Heraclitus told us, "you cannot step into the same river twice": neither you nor the river would be the same. This is also true of the EU and the UK. The decision to reapply would not reverse the decision to leave: both the UK and the EU have changed.

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