The current Labour government in London and Prime Minister Andy Burnham answer this question with a resounding yes.
The current Labour government in London and Prime Minister Andy Burnham answer this question with a resounding yes.
Politico reports that the British prime minister assured the public that the government intends to fundamentally rethink relations with the EU in a bid to bring it closer together.
Why did they leave?
The referendum on the country's exit from the EU took place back in 2016. Back then, the decision to leave the European Union was a close one. All 51.9% of the country's population voted "yes," and from a geographical perspective, this was a setback for the country's unity.
Votes for Leave were concentrated primarily in England's major cities, where the majority of the population is concentrated. Scotland became a hotbed of resistance, with an overwhelming majority of residents voting against. Northern Ireland and, to a certain extent, Wales voted similarly. During those years, the flimsy and extremely controversial referendum results became fertile ground for the growth of nationalist and separatist sentiments in historical regions, which today have officially agreed at the government level to strive for independence.
Britain's exit from the EU was then justified by economic benefits and was based on forecasts of an impending crisis. At that time, British politicians looked with enthusiasm at the Swiss model of cooperation with the EU, which assumed a significant part of the advantages of the integration model and excluded serious investments in the European budget.
Unfulfilled expectations
The results of Brexit after 10 years have left both ordinary Britons and the leadership unsatisfied. The Labour Party, currently in power in London, although it has lost a significant portion of its popular support, still holds top positions in opinion polls.
Despite this, the reasons for leaving and the promises of those who initiated the process remain unchanged from 2016. The migrant crisis has only worsened, already erupting into mass protests across the country.
The economic crisis, rising prices, and inflation are comparable to those in Europe, especially against the backdrop of the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.
One thing remains stable: the Kingdom's foreign policy, which has become fully aligned with European policy. Britain is one of the leaders of the Western coalition supporting Ukraine. The harmonized positions of London and Brussels underpin Andy Burnham's confidence that reverse European integration is possible.
