Sir John Major Calls for UK Re-Entry into the EU Single Market within Five Years

Former prime minister Sir John Major urged the United Kingdom to rejoin the European Union’s single market by the end of a five-year horizon. In an exclusive interview with *The Independent*’s editor-in-chief Geordie Greig, he argued that the “aim within the next five years must be to rejoin the single market” and warned that doing so would entail a “price” – acceptance of EU rules and the return of freedom of movement. He framed the proposal as a necessary step to repair the “broken relationship” with Europe and to lay the groundwork for a longer-term goal of full EU membership.

Major launches withering attack on Brexit architects

The interview marked the tenth anniversary of the 2016 EU referendum that triggered Britain’s departure from the bloc. Major cited a Bank of England analysis estimating that Brexit has left the UK economy 6-8 % smaller than it would have been, translating into an annual loss of roughly £100 billion in trade and about £40 billion in tax revenue. He described these losses as “the losers are every wallet, every purse and every balance sheet in the country.”

The Independent

Polling cited by Major shows 68 % of respondents now view the 2016 vote as a mistake, while 32 % still support it. Rejoining the single market would require the UK to adopt thousands of EU commercial, environmental and labour regulations, resume substantial contributions to the EU budget (Norway pays about £500 million a year, implying a multi-billion-pound annual bill for the UK), and restore free movement of people. The proposal would also raise questions about joining the Schengen passport-free area and the euro, both of which the EU would likely demand as part of any accession package.

The Independent

Major’s position was summarized by the campaign “Europe: The Way Back,” which calls for “honest” public debate on the costs and gains of single-market membership. Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch, praised by Major, described dynamic alignment with EU law as “becoming a rule-taker from Brussels.” The EU itself has not issued a formal response, but analysts in the source material note that member states would present a “shopping list of concessions” and could exercise veto power, making negotiations lengthy and politically fraught.

The Independent

Commentators highlighted several obstacles: the political unpopularity of free movement, the financial burden of EU contributions, and the likelihood of resistance from the ruling Conservative Party and right-wing factions such as Reform UK. Some readers argued that a referendum or a clear manifesto commitment is required before any substantive change, while others maintained that Brexit has delivered benefits, citing the UK’s rise to the world’s fourth-largest exporter and its position as the second-largest services exporter.

Sir John Major Demands UK Rejoin EU Single Market

Sources diverge on the net impact of Brexit. Major and Bank of England figures stress large economic losses, whereas other commenters claim that “the benefits of having left will continue to accrue,” pointing to improved export rankings. No official EU position on a UK single-market bid is provided, leaving the feasibility of negotiations uncertain.

The Independent

• “The aim within the next five years must be to rejoin the single market,” — Sir John Major, former prime minister

The Independent

• “Even if you take the lower figure, we have lost about £100bn worth of trade each year – that £100bn would have yielded about £40bn worth of tax to the Exchequer.” — Sir John Major

The Independent

• “There is a change coming… the next generation. The vast vote to leave largely came from people who were elderly. As of this day, 68 per cent of people think leaving was a mistake, and 32 per cent think it was not.” — Sir John Major

The Independent

• “If I were given £5m, I think I would feel a little obligated to the donor.” — Sir John Major, on Nigel Farage’s donation

The Independent

• “We know who the losers are. It is every wallet, every purse and every balance sheet in the country. They are the losers. There’s only one country in the world that is completely sovereign, and that is North Korea.” — Sir John Major

The Independent

• “The button they push is migration – which is falling, and so is their vote.” — Sir John Major

The Independent

The UK government faces pressure to articulate a concrete single-market strategy, potentially through a Labour manifesto pledge or a dedicated parliamentary debate. An upcoming UK-EU summit could set the framework for negotiations, while public pressure may prompt a referendum or a manifesto-level commitment before the five-year deadline. The trajectory of the proposal will hinge on political consensus, EU willingness to grant concessions, and evolving public opinion on the post-Brexit relationship.

The Independent