https://www.theguardian.com/politics/eu-referendum Latest news and features from theguardian.com, the world's leading liberal voice en-gb Guardian News &amp; Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2026 Mon, 25 May 2026 22:17:45 GMT 2026-05-25T22:17:45Z en-gb Guardian News &amp; Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2026 https://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.png https://www.theguardian.com https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/25/british-council-is-a-strategic-asset-in-post-brexit-era <p><strong>Prof Mark R Sanderson </strong>says the council is Britain’s most effective instrument of soft power and should be funded properly, not hollowed out </p><p>The hollowing out of the British Council across Europe should alarm anyone who cares about the UK’s standing in the world (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/22/soft-power-sell-off-anger-british-council-sale-historic-madrid-building">Soft power sell-off: anger as British Council announces sale of historic Madrid building, 22 May</a>). For decades, it has been one of Britain’s most effective instruments of soft power, teaching English, supporting cultural and scientific exchange, and building long‑term goodwill that no advertising campaign could buy.</p><p>The proposed sale or downsizing of long‑established teaching centres with the huge loss of dedicated skilled staff in Madrid, Milan<strong> </strong>and<strong> </strong>Naples would be an irreparable loss. These buildings were acquired when city‑centre property was affordable; replacing them would be impossible at anything like the same cost. We have already seen the disappearance of the council’s excellent libraries in Paris, Rome, Athens and Lisbon – collections built up over many decades and once central to Britain’s cultural presence in Europe.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/25/british-council-is-a-strategic-asset-in-post-brexit-era">Continue reading...</a> Foreign policy Politics Spain Italy Europe World news Brexit Mon, 25 May 2026 15:23:49 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/25/british-council-is-a-strategic-asset-in-post-brexit-era Photograph: iPhone/Alamy Photograph: iPhone/Alamy Photograph: iPhone/Alamy Guardian Staff 2026-05-25T15:23:49Z https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/23/extra-eu-border-checks-ees-suspended-dover-travel-delays-hot-weather <p>Wait times of more than two hours reported at terminal for cross-Channel ferry to France</p><p>French police have temporarily suspended extra EU border checks at the port of Dover as thousands of holidaymakers face long delays in the hot weather.</p><p>Waiting times of more than two hours were reported at the terminal in Kent for the cross-Channel ferry to France.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/23/extra-eu-border-checks-ees-suspended-dover-travel-delays-hot-weather">Continue reading...</a> Transport UK news France European Union Europe World news Water transport Road transport Kent England Brexit Sat, 23 May 2026 14:10:54 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/23/extra-eu-border-checks-ees-suspended-dover-travel-delays-hot-weather Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Sammy Gecsoyler 2026-05-23T14:10:54Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/23/uk-eu-european-union-reset-david-miliband-single-market-goods <p>Ex-foreign secretary urges reset at ‘higher dosage’ after officials revealed to have pitched single market for goods</p><p>Britain needs a “national consensus” about rejoining the European Union, David Miliband has said, in response to revelations that the UK government <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/22/uk-pitched-single-market-for-goods-with-eu-as-it-pursues-trade-reintegration">pitched the creation of a single market for goods</a> with the EU to the bloc.</p><p>The former foreign secretary, who is now president of the International Rescue Committee, said he thought the UK needed a reset of its relations with the EU at “a much higher dosage” than the government was planning.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/23/uk-eu-european-union-reset-david-miliband-single-market-goods">Continue reading...</a> David Miliband Brexit European Union Foreign policy Trade policy Labour Politics Europe UK news Labour party leadership Sat, 23 May 2026 10:26:13 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/23/uk-eu-european-union-reset-david-miliband-single-market-goods Photograph: Jose Sarmento Matos/EPA Photograph: Jose Sarmento Matos/EPA Photograph: Jose Sarmento Matos/EPA Donna Ferguson 2026-05-23T10:26:13Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/22/uk-pitched-single-market-for-goods-with-eu-as-it-pursues-trade-reintegration <p>Exclusive: Top British official presented idea in Brussels but sources say it was rebuffed</p><p>The UK government pitched the creation of a single market for goods with the EU as the cornerstone of an ambitious attempt to reintegrate British trade back into Europe, the Guardian can reveal.</p><p>During recent visits to Brussels, the Cabinet Office’s top official on EU relations, Michael Ellam, presented the idea to deepen the UK’s economic relationship with the bloc.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/22/uk-pitched-single-market-for-goods-with-eu-as-it-pursues-trade-reintegration">Continue reading...</a> Brexit European Union Trade policy Labour Politics Foreign policy UK news World news Europe Fri, 22 May 2026 21:51:48 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/22/uk-pitched-single-market-for-goods-with-eu-as-it-pursues-trade-reintegration Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA Jennifer Rankin in Brussels and Rowena Mason 2026-05-22T21:51:48Z https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/22/electoral-reform-reverse-brexit-labour-leadership-eu-debate <p>Labour’s emerging leadership contest is reopening the EU debate. But if we want to rejoin, Britain needs a more European voting system first</p><p>Nowhere is an anniversary more relished than in newspapers. As we approach the 10-year mark since Britain voted for Brexit, countless column inches would no doubt have been reserved for this purpose anyway. Yet the prospect of a Labour leadership contest, at a time when polls are showing four-fifths of the party’s <a href="https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/Internal_EUrelations_260417_w.pdf">voters</a> at the last election and an even higher proportion of its <a href="https://labourlist.org/2026/05/labour-members-back-call-for-manifesto-pledge-to-rejoin-eu-exclusive-poll-reveals/">members</a> want to reverse that June 2016 referendum decision, is transforming what might have merely been melancholic reflection into a more active debate.</p><p>Keir Starmer last week made a belated nod to one of his party’s deepest desires by saying that he, too, wants to put the UK back at “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/11/keir-starmer-labour-leadership-speech">the heart of Europe</a>”, even if it was still unclear exactly what he meant. Then Wes Streeting sought to revive faltering ambitions to be the next prime minister with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/16/wes-streeting-launches-scathing-attack-keir-starmer-vision-leadership">a call for full re-entry</a> into the EU, although he was similarly vague about when that might happen. Meanwhile, Andy Burnham was busy <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/18/andy-burnham-says-he-will-not-try-to-return-uk-to-eu">rowing back</a> from a previously expressed hope of rejoining at some undisclosed point in his lifetime, perhaps because he won’t get a shot at Downing Street unless he first wins <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/18/makerfield-byelection-andy-burnham-labour-electoral-problems-analysis">next month’s byelection in Makerfield</a>, where a majority supported Brexit a decade ago.</p><p>Tom Baldwin is the author of <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/keir-starmer-9780008774158/?utm_source=editoriallink&amp;utm_medium=merch&amp;utm_campaign=article">Keir Starmer, The Biography</a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/22/electoral-reform-reverse-brexit-labour-leadership-eu-debate">Continue reading...</a> Brexit Electoral reform European Union Andy Burnham Labour Wes Streeting Keir Starmer Politics UK news Foreign policy Europe Fri, 22 May 2026 10:33:17 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/22/electoral-reform-reverse-brexit-labour-leadership-eu-debate Photograph: James Veysey/Shutterstock Photograph: James Veysey/Shutterstock Photograph: James Veysey/Shutterstock Tom Baldwin 2026-05-22T10:33:17Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/21/keir-starmer-labour-leadership-rachel-reeves-cost-of-living-echr-single-sex-spaces-latest-news-updates <p>Prime minister tells reporters he would campaign personally in the contest</p><p>The <strong>Home Office </strong>has also published <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release">asylum figures</a> this morning. These show that the number of asylum seekers being housed temporarily in hotels stood at 20,885 at the end of March 2026, down 35% year-on-year from 32,326. The Press Association says:</p><p>It is the lowest figure since data was first reported in 2022, Home Office figures show.</p><p>The total had climbed as high as 56,018 at the end of September 2023.</p><p>Brits are leaving on a massive scale and non-EU immigration remains far too high. Mass immigration undermines our society and low wage immigration is bad for the economy. British families feel it in lower wages, longer waiting lists for public services and housing shortages.</p><p>Labour must go further and reform indefinite leave to remain before their hard-left flank forces them to abandon it altogether.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/21/keir-starmer-labour-leadership-rachel-reeves-cost-of-living-echr-single-sex-spaces-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a> Politics UK news Rachel Reeves Labour UK cost of living crisis Labour party leadership Keir Starmer Conservatives Reform UK Green party Wes Streeting Andy Burnham Tax and spending Capital gains tax Economic policy Economics Migration Immigration and asylum House of Commons Office for National Statistics Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Chemical industry Business Money Tax Byelections Zack Polanski Brexit Foreign policy Emily Thornberry Europe European Union James Cleverly Thu, 21 May 2026 16:02:24 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/21/keir-starmer-labour-leadership-rachel-reeves-cost-of-living-echr-single-sex-spaces-latest-news-updates Photograph: Kin Cheung/PA Photograph: Kin Cheung/PA Photograph: Kin Cheung/PA Andrew Sparrow 2026-05-21T16:02:24Z https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/20/the-guardian-view-on-britain-and-europe-international-upheaval-demands-new-terms-of-debate <p>The world has changed dramatically since the Brexit referendum and politics needs to catch up</p><p>The spectacle of a prime minister <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/12/starmer-cabinet-labour-leadership">clinging to power</a> while his party grows increasingly desperate for a replacement is painfully familiar from the end of the last Tory government. British politics feels trapped in a loop. This condition is not wholly a result of Brexit, but the failure of that project is a significant part of it. None of the benefits promised in the referendum by the leave campaign have materialised. It is all downside, but political discussion of any significant rewriting of the terms of departure is taboo. Sir Keir Starmer’s “reset” of European relations is mostly tinkering at the margins.</p><p>Meanwhile, the strategic calculus has changed entirely since 2016. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine exposed European complacency about continental defence and energy security. Donald Trump’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/21/davos-2026-trump-greenland-rules-out-force-part-north-america">aggressive contempt</a> for old allies makes it clear that they cannot depend on the US for protection.</p><p><em><strong>Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters"> letters</a> section, please <a href="mailto:guardian.letters@theguardian.com?body=Please%20include%20your%20name,%20full%20postal%20address%20and%20phone%20number%20with%20your%20letter%20below.%20Letters%20are%20usually%20published%20with%20the%20author%27s%20name%20and%20city/town/village.%20The%20rest%20of%20the%20information%20is%20for%20verification%20only%20and%20to%20contact%20you%20where%20necessary.">click here</a></strong></em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/20/the-guardian-view-on-britain-and-europe-international-upheaval-demands-new-terms-of-debate">Continue reading...</a> Brexit Foreign policy Keir Starmer Makerfield byelection Andy Burnham Donald Trump Angela Merkel Wes Streeting UK news European Union Vladimir Putin Labour Wed, 20 May 2026 17:52:03 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/20/the-guardian-view-on-britain-and-europe-international-upheaval-demands-new-terms-of-debate Photograph: Melinda Nagy/Alamy Photograph: Melinda Nagy/Alamy Photograph: Melinda Nagy/Alamy Editorial 2026-05-20T17:52:03Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/20/keir-starmer-wes-streeting-labour-leadership-kemi-badenoch-pmqs-conservatives-reform-uk-politics-latest-news-updates <p>This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/20/wes-streeting-first-speech-resignation-labour-must-be-bolder-or-lose">here</a></p><p>Labour is in a curious, transitional state at the moment. Officially Keir Starmer is committed to staying as leader and prime minister until the next election. There is no formal leadership contest underway. But, informally, it has already started, with Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting already setting out their offer to the Labour membership. We will hear more from Streeting this afternoon. But much of the parliamentary party is already working on the basis that a Burnham premiership is all-but-inevitable, and so Streeting’s interventions may turn out to be more about shoring up his position in a potential future Burnham administration than a rehearsal for an election that may never happen.</p><p>Here are some of the stories out today covering Starmer, Burnham and Streeting.</p><p><strong>Ailbhe Rea <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/the-politics-column/2026/05/the-long-coup">in the New Statesman</a> says an insider describes the atmosphere in No 10 now as “very, very odd”. </strong>She says:</p><p>Starmer and his remaining loyal cabinet ministers want to make every day that they are still in office count, and are determined to cut through the noise of the leadership drama. Many cabinet ministers, who may not survive long in their posts if Starmer is replaced as Prime Minister, are desperate to set a legacy and bank achievements in their briefs while they can. “Let’s get out there and make the case for what we’re doing,” has been Starmer’s message to colleagues. There is even a fleeting hope inside Downing Street that the leadership speculation “burns itself out”, that “Wes and Andy tearing chunks out of each other for weeks might just make Keir look better”. But even many loyalists accept that is wishful thinking. “The writing is on the wall, even if we don’t know exactly what form that takes yet,” one concludes.</p><p><strong>Patrick Maguire, Geraldine Scott and Larisa Brown<a href="https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/keir-starmer-resign-christmas-andy-burnham-kq8glz0c8"> in the Times</a> say Starmer could stay in Downing Street until early next year. </strong>They report:</p><p>Ministers familiar with Starmer’s thinking say he has no plans to step down before the Labour Party conference in September and is unlikely to relinquish office before Christmas.</p><p>They told <em>The State of It</em>, the political podcast from The Times and Sunday Times, that there were still significant obstacles ahead for Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, who on Tuesday refused to rule out breaking Labour’s manifesto pledge against tax rises.</p><p><strong>Caroline Wheeler <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/cabinet-wooing-burnham-top-jobs-miliband-chancellor-4426136">in the i </a>says cabinet ministers are already angling for jobs in a Burnham administration. </strong>She says:</p><p>Senior ministers are preparing visits to Makerfield amid growing expectations in Westminster that Burnham could ultimately take the Labour leadership – and with it the power to appoint the next Cabinet.</p><p>“The equation cabinet ministers are making is that if they go and he wins they will get a plum job,” one senior source said. “If they don’t go and he wins, he will remember. And if they don’t go and he loses, he will remember.”</p><p>Many now believe that Burnham is lining up to make Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, as his chancellor. It comes as Miliband’s special adviser was seconded to work with Burnham for the by-election campaign …</p><p>Burnham is also widely expected to make Lucy Powell, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, his deputy prime minister. Multiple sources said that other women likely to be given top jobs include Angela Rayner, the former deputy prime minister, Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, and Louise Haigh, the former transport secretary, who is also the co-chair of the influential soft-left Tribune group of MPs.</p><p><strong>Sam Blewett at Politico has taken <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/andy-burnham-uk-labour-leadership-bid-team-makerfield-byelection/">an in-depth look at the team supporting Burnham</a>. </strong>He says the key figure is Kevin Lee, director of the Greater Manchester mayor’s office, who has been advising Burnham with little break since 2010.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/20/keir-starmer-wes-streeting-labour-leadership-kemi-badenoch-pmqs-conservatives-reform-uk-politics-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a> Politics UK news Keir Starmer PMQs Labour party leadership Kemi Badenoch Wes Streeting House of Commons Labour Byelections Russia Ukraine Oil Supermarkets UK cost of living crisis Reform UK Scottish National party (SNP) Plaid Cymru Conservatives Scottish politics Scotland Brexit Europe European Union Trade policy Wed, 20 May 2026 16:18:13 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/20/keir-starmer-wes-streeting-labour-leadership-kemi-badenoch-pmqs-conservatives-reform-uk-politics-latest-news-updates Photograph: UK Parliament TV Photograph: UK Parliament TV Photograph: UK Parliament TV Andrew Sparrow 2026-05-20T16:18:13Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/20/brexit-vote-decade-later-we-want-to-hear-how-you-feel-now <p>As the UK approaches the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum, we’d like to hear how people feel about the decision now and whether your views have changed over the past decade</p><p>It’s been nearly ten years since the fateful <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/eu-referendum">Brexit</a> referendum on 23 June 2016 when <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/24/britain-votes-for-brexit-eu-referendum-david-cameron">the UK voted to leave the EU</a>.</p><p>We’d like to hear from people across the UK about how they voted at the time, how they feel about Brexit now and whether their views have changed over the past decade. Do you still feel the same way you did in 2016? Have your experiences since then changed your perspective in any way?</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/20/brexit-vote-decade-later-we-want-to-hear-how-you-feel-now">Continue reading...</a> Brexit European Union Politics Europe Wed, 20 May 2026 14:59:09 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/20/brexit-vote-decade-later-we-want-to-hear-how-you-feel-now Photograph: Rob Stothard/AP Photograph: Rob Stothard/AP Photograph: Rob Stothard/AP Guardian community team 2026-05-20T14:59:09Z https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/20/brexit-may-be-back-but-britain-needs-to-know-what-it-wants <p>A decade after the referendum, EU leaders would welcome closer ties – once the UK has understood the ‘European deal’</p><p><strong>• </strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/22/this-is-europe-sign-up-guardian-email-updates"><strong>Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up here</strong></a></p><p>Brexit’s back. Well, sort of. If it ever really went away. At any rate, an awful lot of ink has been spilled – in Britain, at least – over last<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/16/wes-streeting-launches-scathing-attack-keir-starmer-vision-leadership">weekend’s remarks by a would-be PM</a> that Brexit was “a catastrophic mistake” and the UK’s future lay “back in the EU”.</p><p>That reflects, first, just how deep the wounds of Brexit still run. A decade after the referendum unleashed an identity politics so powerful it <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/apr/09/ten-years-brexit-uk-divided-country">still dominates UK debate</a>, Britain’s voters remain divided into the two warring tribes of remain versus leave.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/20/brexit-may-be-back-but-britain-needs-to-know-what-it-wants">Continue reading...</a> World news Europe Brexit Politics Wed, 20 May 2026 14:20:25 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/20/brexit-may-be-back-but-britain-needs-to-know-what-it-wants Photograph: Jaimi Joy/PA Photograph: Jaimi Joy/PA Photograph: Jaimi Joy/PA Jon Henley Europe correspondent 2026-05-20T14:20:25Z https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/20/death-of-accountability-nigel-farage-no-10-brexit <p>You’d expect the public face of Brexit to be punished by voters. But history shows that leaders often profit from the chaos they sow</p><p>The biggest Brexit donor was the stockbroker Peter Hargreaves. He gave £3.2m to the leave campaign. He <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/may/12/billionaire-brexit-donor-leaving-eu-like-dunkirk">justified his enthusiasm</a> as follows: “We will get out there and we will become incredibly successful because we will be insecure again. And insecurity is fantastic.” If you are wondering, “Fantastic for whom?”, the current <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJmjvO-r7aA">television ad</a> for the company he co-founded, Hargreaves Lansdown, could supply an answer. It presents itself as a safe haven in times of disruptive change. Among the examples it provides? Brexit.</p><p>Perhaps our most poignant political folk tale is the notion of accountability. Those who hurt and undermine us will be punished, while those who help us will be rewarded. In reality, little in either business or politics could be further from the truth. A more reliable rule is that those who generate insecurity <a href="https://naomiklein.org/the-shock-doctrine/">profit from it</a>.</p><p>George Monbiot is a Guardian columnist</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/20/death-of-accountability-nigel-farage-no-10-brexit">Continue reading...</a> Nigel Farage Reform UK Labour Politics UK news World news Brexit Wed, 20 May 2026 07:00:27 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/20/death-of-accountability-nigel-farage-no-10-brexit Photograph: Jack Taylor/Reuters Photograph: Jack Taylor/Reuters Photograph: Jack Taylor/Reuters George Monbiot 2026-05-20T07:00:27Z https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/20/global-power-britain-brexit <p>Without a reckoning about the epic strategic error of leaving the EU, there is no serious debate about the country’s future place in the world</p><p>While the Labour party was in meltdown last week, Donald Trump was visiting China. By the time Wes Streeting had sent his <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/14/wes-streeting-resignation-letter-what-he-said-and-what-he-meant">resignation letter</a> to Keir Starmer, the US president had completed a two-hour bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, and moved on to sightseeing.</p><p>The events unfolded in parallel, but in the competition for media and Westminster attention the superpower summit couldn’t rival manoeuvres against the prime minister. That is normal. A domestic crisis will always bump foreign events off the news agenda.</p><p>Rafael Behr is a Guardian columnist</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/20/global-power-britain-brexit">Continue reading...</a> Labour Politics UK news Keir Starmer Brexit European Union Foreign policy Wed, 20 May 2026 05:00:23 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/20/global-power-britain-brexit Photograph: Ritchie B Tongo/EPA Photograph: Ritchie B Tongo/EPA Photograph: Ritchie B Tongo/EPA Rafael Behr 2026-05-20T05:00:23Z https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2026/may/19/ella-baron-cartoon-nigel-farage-britain-brexit <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2026/may/19/ella-baron-cartoon-nigel-farage-britain-brexit">Continue reading...</a> Nigel Farage Politics UK news Brexit Tue, 19 May 2026 17:39:13 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2026/may/19/ella-baron-cartoon-nigel-farage-britain-brexit Illustration: Ella Baron/The Guardian Illustration: Ella Baron/The Guardian Illustration: Ella Baron/The Guardian Ella Baron 2026-05-19T17:39:13Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/19/delusional-desperate-and-mostly-called-david-brexiters-gather-to-lament-the-great-betratal <p>The Freedom Association’s Brexit Unleashed conference in Westminster was largely untroubled by reality </p><p>Those we haven’t loved. It’s been nearly a decade since the Brexit referendum and the main architects seem to have gone quiet. Boris Johnson has retreated into his own world having been rejected by the real one. Still wondering why David Cameron hadn’t left him detailed instructions of what to do if the UK left the EU. Nigel Farage is happy to talk about almost anything but Brexit. And where his money comes from and how it’s spent. The man who can’t be bought but used to do Cameos at £80 a pop for Hugh Janus can’t even admit the Boriswave was a direct result of Brexit.</p><p>But there are still a few believers. At least 120 of them. These were the men and women of the Freedom Association who had gathered in Westminster for their Brexit Unleashed conference. The weirdos. The misfits. The losers. The mostly elderly desperados who cling to the certainty they were right all along. Untroubled by all the evidence to the contrary. Unaware that many of their arguments contradict one another. That all that they want to be true cannot all be true. Entwined with one another in a death spiral. This church hall was a place where hope came to die.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/19/delusional-desperate-and-mostly-called-david-brexiters-gather-to-lament-the-great-betratal">Continue reading...</a> Brexit European Union Politics David Frost UK news Tue, 19 May 2026 16:59:17 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/19/delusional-desperate-and-mostly-called-david-brexiters-gather-to-lament-the-great-betratal Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA John Crace 2026-05-19T16:59:17Z https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/19/wes-streetings-brexit-europe-referendum <p>Ten years after the referendum, its role as domestic football is still the order of the day – and the ex-health secretary is happy to use it in his leadership bid</p><ul><li><p>Anand Menon is director of The UK in a Changing Europe</p></li></ul><p>Brexit, it seems, is back. Or at least back within the Labour party. Wes wants to be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/16/wes-streeting-launches-scathing-attack-keir-starmer-vision-leadership">back in</a> (at some point). Andy once said there’s a case, but seems to have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/18/andy-burnham-says-he-will-not-try-to-return-uk-to-eu">changed his mind</a>. Nigel, meanwhile, warns of <a href="https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/nigel-farage-andy-burnham-makerfield-33963166">betrayal</a>.</p><p>On one hand, this is all terribly predictable. Winning any Labour leadership race was never going to be possible without staking out a clear and ambitious position on the EU. Most Labour members are remain backers who regret leaving Europe. Even before the beginning of a formal contest, we were always going to see those vying for the top job try to outbid each other.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/19/wes-streetings-brexit-europe-referendum">Continue reading...</a> Labour party leadership Brexit Wes Streeting Andy Burnham Politics Labour UK news Tue, 19 May 2026 07:00:06 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/19/wes-streetings-brexit-europe-referendum Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters Anand Menon 2026-05-19T07:00:06Z https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/18/no-tailor-made-deal-uk-eu-brexit-officials-rejoin <p>Britain likely to face ‘warm, welcoming stance’ if it seeks re-entry but also a ‘hard-headed one’ – with no special deals</p><p>Britain would not be able to rejoin the EU on the special terms it enjoyed in the past, veterans of the Brexit negotiations have said.</p><p>The warnings came as senior Labour politicians jostling for the leadership of their party and country talk openly about wanting to return to the union at some point in the future.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/18/no-tailor-made-deal-uk-eu-brexit-officials-rejoin">Continue reading...</a> European Union Brexit UK news Europe Foreign policy Politics Mon, 18 May 2026 18:45:09 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/18/no-tailor-made-deal-uk-eu-brexit-officials-rejoin Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA Jennifer Rankin in Brussels and Kiran Stacey 2026-05-18T18:45:09Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/audio/2026/may/18/andy-burnham-first-election-hurdle-brexit-podcast <p>Andy Burnham may already be facing a tricky obstacle in his push to return to Westminster. Past comments about rejoining the EU have come back to haunt him, particularly given that the Makerfield constituency voted overwhelmingly to leave in the Brexit referendum. Plus, Wes Streeting has confirmed he will stand in any leadership contest, raising fresh questions about where all this leaves Keir Starmer</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/audio/2026/may/18/andy-burnham-first-election-hurdle-brexit-podcast">Continue reading...</a> Politics Andy Burnham Brexit Byelections Wes Streeting North of England UK news Labour party leadership Keir Starmer Labour Mon, 18 May 2026 17:04:11 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/audio/2026/may/18/andy-burnham-first-election-hurdle-brexit-podcast Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters Presented by Kiran Stacey and Peter Walker, produced by Frankie Tobi, original music by Axel Kacoutié, the executive producer is Maz Ebtehaj 2026-05-18T17:04:11Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/18/keir-starmer-labour-leadership-wes-streeting-andy-burnham-david-lammy-brexit-eu-latest-news-updates <p>The prime minister said he wouldn’t be setting out a timetable to stand down if Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield byelection</p><p><em>Jakub Krupa writes the Guardian’s Europe live blog.</em></p><p>The <strong>European Commission</strong> has been asked about its response to the renewed talk about Britain’s potential future attempt to rejoin the European Union – but did not take a bait.</p><p>At this stage, there are discussions on closer cooperation in a number of areas, that’s where we are, and that’s what we are doing precisely in preparation for the next summit rather than speculating about big or renewed issues.</p><p>We are not there. If we ever are in that situation, I will gladly reply to [this question].</p><p>I just wanted to come here to Labour party headquarters to say a big thank you to you. The election results were not the ones that we wanted, they were really tough. But you worked your socks off.<br><br> It’s not been easy circumstances in the last 10 days. But you have just got on with the job that we asked you to do.<br><br> If you look at just some of the figures that came out last week. We had growth figures that were the best in the G7. That’s because of the hard work that we’ve done in government. On the economy we’ve got ourselves into a good position, having inherited a real basket case from the last government.<br><br> The NHS figures were really good, which again vindicates what we did, which was invest in the NHS, which is what we said we would do.<br><br> And that’s on top of all the other things … The Employment Rights Act. The biggest upgrade in renters’ rights in a generation.<br><br> And then of course all the work that we are doing around child poverty, of which I am really proud. What a game changer that will be for a whole generation and will be measured for years and years to come because the children will feel the impact for the rest of their lives. They will have chances they wouldn’t otherwise have had.<br><br> The election results tell us that people are frustrated, they don’t feel that their lives have changed quickly enough.<br><br> We need to build up the urgency of what we do. We need a bit more hope in there. And we need to remember at all times what we are here to do. We were elected to government to serve the people of this country.<br><br> And I remind myself every day that in July 2024 millions of people voted for us to come into government, to get on with the job, to govern, and to bring about the change that they want.<br><br> So I am focused on the job that I was asked to do, which is to serve my country and to carry out my duties as prime minister of this country. Delivering for the very many people who voted us into office, who are saying, ‘just get on with it, get on with the job, get on with the change that I need to see in my life’. And that is what I am going to be doing.<br><br> We now have an important by-election coming up. It is Labour versus Reform. We will know very shortly who the candidate is. Whoever they are I am going to support them 100% and I want every member, everyone in our movement, to support them. A Labour candidate to beat Reform. That is the fight that we are in.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/18/keir-starmer-labour-leadership-wes-streeting-andy-burnham-david-lammy-brexit-eu-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a> Politics UK news Keir Starmer Labour party leadership Andy Burnham Wes Streeting David Lammy Brexit Europe European Union Byelections Reform UK Conservatives Angela Rayner Greater Manchester Devolution Local government Economic policy Government borrowing Mon, 18 May 2026 17:00:18 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/18/keir-starmer-labour-leadership-wes-streeting-andy-burnham-david-lammy-brexit-eu-latest-news-updates Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Andrew Sparrow 2026-05-18T17:00:18Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2026/may/18/could-the-uk-really-rejoin-the-eu-the-latest <p>The Brexit debate has been reignited after Labour leadership contender Wes Streeting called it a ‘catastrophic mistake’ and said the UK should rejoin the European Union. His comments put pressure on rival Andy Burnham, who has previously advocated for rejoining the bloc but is fighting a byelection in the leave-voting Makerfield constituency. But how would rejoining work and would the EU even agree to it? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s Europe correspondent, Jon Henley</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2026/may/18/could-the-uk-really-rejoin-the-eu-the-latest">Continue reading...</a> Brexit Politics European Union UK news Europe Wes Streeting Keir Starmer Andy Burnham Labour Mon, 18 May 2026 16:38:44 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2026/may/18/could-the-uk-really-rejoin-the-eu-the-latest Photograph: Guardian Design Photograph: Guardian Design Photograph: Guardian Design Presented by Lucy Hough with Jon Henley ; producer Bryony Moore ; senior producer Ryan Ramgobin ; lead producer Zoe Hitch 2026-05-18T16:38:44Z https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/may/18/could-the-uk-really-rejoin-the-eu-the-latest <p>The Brexit debate has been reignited after Labour leadership contender Wes Streeting called it a ‘catastrophic mistake’ and said the UK should rejoin the European Union. His comments put pressure on rival Andy Burnham, who has previously advocated for rejoining the bloc but is fighting a byelection in the leave-voting Makerfield constituency. But how would rejoining work and would the EU even agree to it? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s Europe correspondent, Jon Henley</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/may/18/could-the-uk-really-rejoin-the-eu-the-latest">Continue reading...</a> Brexit Politics European Union UK news Europe Wes Streeting Keir Starmer Andy Burnham Labour Mon, 18 May 2026 16:18:28 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/may/18/could-the-uk-really-rejoin-the-eu-the-latest Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA Presented by Lucy Hough with Jon Henley; produced by Bryony Moore; senior producer Ryan Ramgobin; lead producer Zoe Hitch 2026-05-18T16:18:28Z