𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Supporters of Britain rejoining the European Union will field a candidate in the looming Makerfield by-election. This comes as campaigners have secured more than 100,000 signatures on a petition calling on the UK to apply to rejoin the bloc – meaning it will now be considered for debate in Parliament.

Barrister Peter Ward will stand for the Rejoin EU Party in the June 18 by-election in which Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham – who is widely expected to attempt to replace Sir Keir Starmer if he is elected – and Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon are locked in a battle for votes.

Mr Burnham and fellow potential Labour leadership candidate Wes Streeting have said they want Britain to one day become a member state again. However, in an apparent bid to win over voters in Leave-backing Makerfield, Mr Burnham has since said that while he believes Brexit has been damaging, the “last thing we should do right now is rerun those arguments”.

Rejoin EU’s Mr Ward said: “This party advocates immediate negotiations with the EU and a return to membership as soon as possible.”

Party chairman Brendan Donnelly added: “Rejoining the EU has come back into the British political debate in a big way. The Rejoin EU Party intends to make a full contribution to this discussion. That’s why we’re standing in Makerfield.”

Meanwhile, Robert McMaster, celebrated his petition passing the 100,000 signatures mark.

Mr McMaster, a member of Berkshire for Europe, one of the 100 local chapters of European Movement UK, said: “Ten years after the Brexit vote and six years since the UK left the EU, it has become clear that Brexit has failed and that the UK public no longer supports leaving the EU, with a clear majority wishing to return.”

Polling by YouGov found 56% of Britons supported rejoining the EU with 35% opposed. Rejoining was supported by 79% of Labour voters – far more than among those who backed the Conservatives (30%) and Reform UK (14%).

David Campbell Bannerman of the Freedom Association warned that if Britain rejoined it would risk losing sterling, having to raise billions in “EU fees”, leaving trade deals and giving up control over Artificial Intelligence.

He said: “The Rejoin case is just delusion heaped on lies. I don’t think they will achieve more than a handful of votes and Burnham is well on course to lose.”