Senior Downing Street officials are said to be testing public support for the UK rejoining the EU, reaching out to thinktanks and pollsters as debate grows over reversing Brexit.
Key facts
- Senior Downing Street officials have been reaching out to thinktanks and pollsters, according to the Guardian.
- The outreach aims to test public support for the UK rejoining the EU.
- Aides to Andy Burnham have been speaking with EU experts about how the public would view a promise to rejoin.
- Momentum is reported to be building behind including such a pledge in the next Labour manifesto.
Senior Downing Street officials have been reaching out to thinktanks and pollsters as they look to test public support for the UK rejoining the EU, according to the Guardian.
The newspaper reported that the outreach is part of an effort to gauge backing for reversing Brexit, with officials seeking evidence from organisations with expertise in European affairs.
Aides to Andy Burnham have been talking to EU experts in a range of organisations about how the public would view a promise to rejoin, the Guardian said.
The reported activity comes as momentum builds behind including such a pledge in the next Labour manifesto, according to the outlet.
The Guardian framed the development as senior figures within government seeking to understand whether a commitment to rejoin the EU would find public support ahead of future electoral commitments.
Why it matters
The possibility of the UK rejoining the EU would be one of the most significant reversals in recent British political history. Testing public opinion signals that reversing Brexit is being considered seriously enough to inform future manifesto commitments, which could reshape the country's relationship with Europe.
Frequently asked questions
Who is reportedly gathering evidence on rejoining the EU?
According to the Guardian, senior Downing Street officials have been reaching out to thinktanks and pollsters to test public support for the UK rejoining the EU.
What role do Andy Burnham's aides play?
The Guardian reports that aides to Andy Burnham have been talking to EU experts in a range of organisations about how the public would view a promise to rejoin.
Could rejoining the EU become Labour policy?
The Guardian reports that momentum is building behind including such a pledge in the next Labour manifesto, though no formal commitment has been described in the source.