Khan Pushes for EU Re-entry, Reynolds Warns of 'Paralysis'

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has called for an immediate effort to rejoin the European Union, arguing that simply suggesting closer ties with Brussels in a future election manifesto is insufficient. Khan urged that the work to persuade the country of the benefits of EU membership should begin now, advocating for an immediate return to the customs union, pursuit of associate membership, and eventual rejoining without a second referendum.

Khan's intervention, made in an interview with the i paper at a Labour conference, contrasts with a warning from Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. Reynolds cautioned against the risks of "political paralysis" that would arise from re-running the Brexit debate, stating such a move would carry a "cost." He indicated that he does not support rejoining the EU customs union.

The issue of Europe has gained prominence within the Labour party. Last week, former Prime Minister Tony Blair suggested that the UK should consider rejoining a "significantly reformed" EU within the next decade. Andy Burnham, a figure within the party, has previously supported rejoining the EU, though his stance has reportedly softened since becoming Prime Minister.

In his remarks, Khan stated that floating the idea of rejoining after the next election is not enough. "You can't, a week before a general election, pull out of a hat this rabbit of a manifesto and say we're going to rejoin in six weeks' time," he said. "The heavy lifting, the pitch rolling must be done now, explaining to the country the disbenefits of being outside the European Union and the benefits of being part of this family."

Reynolds, speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, adopted a different tone. He suggested that the UK should continue negotiating to improve its existing ties with the EU, operating within the current "red lines" that preclude rejoining the single market or customs union. "This approach of genuinely improving things across the board and not returning to political uncertainty, I think, is absolutely the right one because there was a cost of leaving the European Union. That was always going to be the case," Reynolds said.

He added that "political paralysis and uncertainty" would return if Brexit became a dominant feature of British politics again. Reynolds also expressed doubt that rejoining the EU would significantly solve all economic problems, and warned that it could lead to a loss of opportunities with other parts of the world. He emphasized focusing on the practical benefits of the current UK-EU agreement and any further negotiations.