Rachel Reeves says Brexit left UK poorer and weaker

'Its future lies in the EU'

It is the first time that the former chancellor broke her silence, following her sacking in July.

Reeves, writing in the Sunday Times, said Brexit had made the UK "poorer, weaker and less secure".

Its future "lies in the European Union", she added.

Earlier this year, Reeves argued that closer ties with the EU is the “biggest prize” economically, amid ongoing fears over the cost of living and at a time when Britain battles flatlining economic growth.

Her intervention backs the prime minister's push for a rethink of Britain's relationship with Brussels.

Burnham has said he wants "an open conversation" on Europe, while he has not ruled out fighting the next election on a promise to rejoin the bloc.

Why Rachel Reeves's Brexit intervention matters

Reeves is not the first senior Labour figure to make the case, but her article adds a sitting party heavyweight to that argument.

George Osborne has also urged the UK to rejoin the EU customs union to reverse what he called a Brexit "disaster".

Reeves said she was "proud of the progress" made in strengthening ties with the EU.

"No one in the Treasury ever doubted where my instincts were," she added.

She said supporters of closer EU ties must now "make the argument" and "demonstrate tangible benefits" rather than assume the public agrees.

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage's Reform UK remains the loudest opponent of any return to Brussels.

In a JOE interview, commentator Peter Oborne has accused the party of waging a war on what Britain is.

Starmer's warning on Europe

The comments followed a warning from former prime minister Keir Starmer.

Speaking in Ireland, he said Britain and Europe "will not go back to the way things were" as the United States becomes a less reliable ally. The Mirror carried the remarks on Sunday morning.

What has Rachel Reeves said about rejoining the EU?

Reeves has said Britain's "future lies in the European Union".

She argues supporters must prove the benefits before any re-entry push can succeed, and get "the next steps right" rather than treat it as inevitable.

What happens next on UK-EU relations?

The next test is the UK-EU summit later this month.

Reeves said ministers should at least confirm the youth mobility scheme agreed earlier this year, and push for progress on joining the SAFE defence partnership.