European Movement UK

To coincide with the launch of our new report 'Creating Culture Together: A Practical Reset for UK', we visited The Louisiana in Bristol, an independent venue hosting some of the biggest names in music, to discuss how being outside of the EU has impacted them.

According to Energy UK, being outside of the EU’s internal electricity market is adding between £120 million and £370 million a year to UK electricity costs. If we’re serious about tackling the cost of living, we cannot afford to isolate ourselves anymore.

The UK needs to stop treating Brexit like a political football. It devastated our country, damaged our economy, and diminished our freedoms. We need to regain our place at the heart of Europe, and repair our relationship.

Our Chair, @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social, lays it out clearly: young people from all backgrounds overwhelmingly voted to remain. Maybe the fact that they would face the consequences of Brexit for the rest of their lives had something to do with that...

Our Chair, Dr Mike Galsworthy, spoke to Dawn Neesom on GB News, on what 10 years after the referendum means for the country. Let's make sure the next 10 years are defined by regaining our place at the heart of Europe.

Lord Kirkhope, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Europe, is right: warm words aren't enough if they're not followed by tangible action. The Government must be bolder if we are serious about repairing the UK-EU relationship.

Sadiq Khan has argued that Labour should aim to rejoin the customs union and the single market, and campaign at the next general election on a promise to take Britain back into the European Union. Support is growing among both the public and politicians - the Government must act on it.

Brexit made Britain poorer, weaker and more isolated. Farage owns that failure, but Labour cannot keep letting their red lines define Britain’s future. Starmer must go further, rebuild ties with Europe, and be honest about the path back.

Keir Starmer described Nigel Farage this morning as "not just a grifter, he is a chancer." However, if the Government is serious about undoing the damage of Farage's Brexit, it needs to drop its red lines and announce real, tangible plans, not more empty platitudes and recycled soundbites.

According to a recent poll by Nanos Research, 57% of Canadians support Canada becoming a full member of the EU. Our Chair, Dr Mike Galsworthy is right, there is a reason why there's a queue of countries that want to join the EU, from Canada to Iceland. It's time for us to join them.

Sir Keir Starmer also argued that the UK needs to be "at the heart of a stronger Europe, on defence, on security, on energy, and on our economy." With this being some of his most pro-European language to date, are the tides finally turning?

Nicholas Bloom, co-author of the National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper "The Economic Impact of Brexit", which claimed that Brexit has reduced GDP by 6-8%, spoke to Robert Peston about his findings. He argued that we would have "doubled the money on the NHS if we'd not left the EU".

Sir Ed Davey: "Europe does no longer trust our country" It's true, trust isn’t rebuilt overnight. But as leaders across the continent, from Roberta Metsola to Pedro Sánchez, increasingly show support for the UK rejoining, it’s becoming easier than ever to repair our relationship with Europe.

Philip Rycroft, former Permanent Secretary for the Department for Exiting the European Union, has recently argued that it is "time to talk about rejoining", explaining that "most economic analysis suggests that we have taken a significant hit to GDP as a result of leaving the single market".

Rejoining the EU Internal Electricity Market would restore efficient cross-border trading, reduce energy costs, and support investment. The EU recently authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the UK regarding our participation: this is a practical step to cheaper, cleaner energy.

Research last year found that alignment on goods alone could boost UK GDP by 1%-1.5%. Yet, the media has focused on trivialities like marmalade labelling. On BBC News this morning, Dan Lepard, ex-head judge and Patron of the World Marmalade Awards, explained how the change is a good thing for us.

Alain Berset, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, spoke to BBC Radio 4 yesterday about the importance of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The UK was the first signatory to the ECHR, and played a formative role in creating the court. We must continue to protect our membership.