Story perspectives

Osborne urges Britain to rejoin EU customs union

By Drooid · Sep 13, 2026, 2:00 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Osborne Urges Rejoin

George Osborne says Britain must rejoin the EU customs union.
He calls Brexit a mess that left Britain poorer.
He argues the customs union would remove trade checks without free movement of people.
He notes promised US trade deals now seem fanciful after Brexit’s economic fallout.
He suggests Andy Burnham could back rejoining because it avoids immigration issues.

Summary

Osborne Challenges Badenoch

Osborne publicly challenged leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch, accusing her of hypocrisy over election pacts.
He praised the 2010-2015 coalition with David Cameron as stable governance.
Osborne expressed pride in austerity measures he implemented as chancellor from 2010 to 2015.
As British Museum chair, he linked the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition to his Brexit narrative.
He argued Brexit caused the Conservative and Labour parties to swap traditional voter bases.

History

Historical Context

In 1973, the United Kingdom entered the European Economic Community, a move championed by Prime Minister Edward Heath that reshaped trade policy. The 1975 referendum saw 67.2% of voters endorse continued membership, a 13-million-strong electorate confirming economic integration and the policy’s legitimacy. Today, George Osborne’s call to rejoin the EU customs union echoes Heath’s integration drive, arguing that trade checks hinder Britain’s post-Brexit economy. The 1970s experience warns that disengagement can trigger fiscal strain, prompting parties to reconsider long-standing trade alignments amid shifting voter bases.

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Osborne Urges Rejoin

George Osborne says Britain must rejoin the EU customs union.
He calls Brexit a mess that left Britain poorer.
He argues the customs union would remove trade checks without free movement of people.
He notes promised US trade deals now seem fanciful after Brexit’s economic fallout.
He suggests Andy Burnham could back rejoining because it avoids immigration issues.

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