O lobby de Tony Blair pela reversão do Brexit

Tony Blair, ex-first minister of the United Kingdom, has argued that the country should pursue rejoining the European Union as a central goal for the next decade. In a report by his think tank, Blair suggested the Labour Party make "rejoining" the bloc the "cornerstone" of its agenda – provided the EU is willing to discuss significant reforms.

"We must make clear that we want to restore a formal relationship with the EU," Blair wrote. "But it must be a Europe on a credible path of reform, a Europe capable of being a genuine global power." Blair noted that the potential benefits of Brexit have "not materialised" and that "if we could revisit 2016, the outcome would be different."

However, he added that "we don't want to rejoin a Europe that adopts misguided policies in areas such as technological innovation, which is essential for Britain's future, and that cannot deliver the vital reforms needed for the future of Europe itself." Blair's stance suggests that the negotiation of a potential return should serve as a "lever" to push for reforms in the bloc aimed at boosting growth and ensuring stricter migration controls.

The publication comes just days before the Labour Party conference, where Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to discuss the future of the UK's relationship with the EU. A recent study by the Institute for Public Policy Research, affiliated with the Labour Party, estimated that the country has been losing £6.5 billion annually in exports due to Brexit, with the automotive industry being the hardest hit.

A recent YouGov poll showed that 57% of Brits believe Brexit was a mistake, while 30% said it was the right decision. Among those who voted 'yes' a decade ago, 23% said their opinion has changed. In a recent Ipsos survey, nearly half of respondents (48%) said Brexit was worse than they imagined, a stark increase from 28% in 2021.

Only 9% think leaving the common European project has been better than expected. The negative effects of Brexit, if not reversed, could include the dissolution of the United Kingdom itself. Leaders in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are aligning to approve independence from London and negotiate, independently, a return to the EU.