LONDON — Rachel Reeves has said Brexit has made Britain "poorer, weaker and less secure" and that the country's future lies in the European Union, in a Sunday Times article trailed late on Saturday night — her first major intervention since leaving the Treasury this year, the BBC reported on Sunday. The former chancellor wrote: "No one in the Treasury ever doubted where my instincts were. I do believe Britain's future lies in the European Union." In the extracts published so far she does not set out a timetable or call for an application to rejoin; she says there is a debate to be had about the future relationship with Europe, and that she welcomes Prime Minister Andy Burnham's leadership in facing up to it.

Source: BBC News, Nov 1, 2026, via British Bulletin

The intervention goes further than anything Reeves said in office, when the government ruled out rejoining the single market or customs union — and it carries weight because of who she is: Reeves helped write Labour's 2024 election manifesto, which committed the party to staying outside the single market, the customs union and freedom of movement. Awaaz Punjab reported on October 25 that Burnham had told The Sunday Times Britain needed an 'honest discussion' about a possible return to free movement, and that a new relationship could include full membership or the single market. Burnham has since named full EU membership, rejoining the single market, rejoining the customs union or keeping the status quo as the potential paths, and said last week on ITV's Good Morning Britain that he wanted the UK back in the EU within his lifetime but ruled out any change in this Parliament, according to reporting of his remarks.

Source: The Independent via EuropeSays, Oct 31, 2026

What Reeves wants from the November 20 summit

Reeves said supporters of rejoining had to "make the argument, demonstrate tangible benefits and to get the next steps right". Ahead of the UK-EU summit later this month, she said, "at a minimum we should be looking for confirmation of the ambitious youth mobility scheme negotiated earlier this year, and — I hope — progress towards entry into the SAFE defence partnership." SAFE — Security Action for Europe — is an EU-wide rearmament effort launched after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine; a defence pact agreed with the EU last May paved the way for UK-based defence companies to take part in projects funded by SAFE. In the same article Reeves also defended her economic record, writing that governments need to be "braver" in building big infrastructure projects and "clear eyed" about the risks and benefits of AI.

The reopening of the Brexit debate has split Labour and drawn fire from opponents. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage condemned the idea of a return, and Labour MPs are split, according to Sunday's reporting. Last week Burnham moved to stop cabinet ministers voicing firm individual views on rejoining, writing to them on Wednesday to say it would not be appropriate for ministers individually to advocate specific options or give opinions on the likely outcome, the reports said. Burnham is expected to reveal more about the options around the November 20 summit, where a youth free movement deal is due to be struck.