{
  "id": 16000029,
  "title": "What does the public really think about rejoining the EU?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/what-does-the-public-really-think-about-rejoining-the-eu",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-22T04:17:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/what-does-the-public-really-think-about-rejoining-the-eu/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent City AM/Freshwater Strategy Poll reveals that the British public is skeptical about the idea of rejoining the European Union (EU) as a solution to their economic problems. The poll indicates that two-thirds (66%) of UK voters believe the country is currently heading in the wrong direction, while a similar proportion (65%) lacks confidence in the government's plan to drive economic growth. The respondents also expect the national economy to worsen over the next year, and half of the respondents think that raising taxes in the upcoming budget would signify government economic failure rather than prudence.\n\nDr. Michael Turner, co-founder and Director at Freshwater Strategy, argues that rejoining the EU won't address Britain's economic stagnation, which is primarily caused by a decade-long period of anti-business, high-tax, and statist governance by various governments, regardless of their political affiliation. He claims that the public's desire for rejoining the EU is a \"seductive narrative\" that suits a government with many issues but few solutions.\n\nTurner points out that the EU's current treatment of the UK often highlights its drawbacks, including punitive measures and legalistic procedures, particularly concerning Northern Ireland. He also emphasizes that any referendum on rejoining the EU would not be a vote on goodwill but on how much more the UK would have to pay into the EU budget, whether to adopt the Euro, whether to relinquish fiscal control, and whether to accept regulatory alignment without a veto.\n\nFurthermore, Turner asserts that Britain's financial sector, which 75% of voters acknowledge as vital to the economy, would benefit more from competitive tax structures and genuine supply-side reforms rather than a return to the EU's \"dirigiste\" approach. He concludes that the real issue is not being outside the EU, but the political class's inability to make tough decisions for sustained economic growth and its reliance on short-term political choices.",
  "summary": "It’s pure delusion to conclude that rejoining the European Union would cure our financial woes and the public knows it, says Dr Michael Turner Andy Burnham wants to reopen Pandora’s box. After solemnly promising before the Makerfield by-election that Brexit was settled, the Prime Minister now concludes that all options are on the table as [...]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}