Seek to rejoin the EU

The UK Government should start negotiations to seek to rejoin the EU. We believe promises made during the EU referendum campaign have not been kept, that people were deceived about what life would be like outside the EU, nd that it is unfair 16 and 17 year olds had no say in the decision.

Since 1957, we believe the EU has benefited its citizens by working for peace and prosperity, protecting our basic political, social, and economic rights.

The single market has enabled us to live or work in any EU country, move money, sell goods without restrictions and provide services. Businesses now have many additional hurdles and trade has plummeted.

In 2015, the Government was elected with a mandate to hold a referendum. That referendum was held and the British public sent a clear message that they wanted to leave the EU. The Government was again elected in 2017 with a mandate reaffirming this and that the British public wanted the Government to trigger Article 50. The Government was, for a third time, re-elected in 2019 with a clear and overwhelming mandate from the British public to pass the necessary legislation to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement and negotiate a trade agreement in line with its manifesto commitment. The Government has fulfilled these commitments and now is fully focussed on implementing the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

Since 31 December 2020, the UK has been outside the EU’s customs union and Single Market, fulfilling manifesto commitments voted for by the British public to take back control of our laws, borders, money and fisheries, and ending any role for the European court.

At the end of 2020, the UK concluded the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU. This is the first time the EU has ever agreed complete tariff-free quota-free access in a free trade agreement. The agreement is based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals, centred on free trade, while establishing close cooperation in areas like transport, digital, and fighting crime. Our focus is now on implementing this agreement, ensuring that it delivers for our citizens and business, and driving forward our relationship with Europe outside of the EU.

This is the beginning of a new chapter for the UK. We have the freedom to do things differently - and better. The UK is more open to the world and we will take advantage of our newfound independence to look further afield, agreeing new trade deals and responding nimbly to major changes in the world around us.

The minimum voting age in the EU referendum was 18. While the Government recognises that individuals who were not old enough to vote in the referendum may have felt frustrated, it should be noted that this is the same minimum voting age as for UK Parliamentary elections and is thus entirely consistent with the rules for other important votes. The eligibility criteria to vote in the EU referendum was set out in primary legislation, passed by the UK Parliament, namely section 2 of the European Union Referendum Act 2015, which was ratified by Parliament.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office