PM under pressure as calls to rejoin EU grow louder

Sir Keir Starmer is under fresh pressure over Brexit as a petition calling for Britain to rejoin the EU racks up tens of thousands of signatures.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

MPs will almost certainly debate the call in the Commons after 36,000 voters signed the petition in just three weeks. With 100,000 signatures a petition is considered for debate in parliament, although the government must respond to it after 10,000 signatures.

The petition calls for the UK to “apply to join the EU as full members as soon as possible”, which its creator and ardent Remainer Robert McMaster said will “boost the economy, increase global influence, improve collaboration and provide stability and freedom”.

“I believe that Brexit hasn’t brought any tangible benefit and there is no future prospect of any, that the UK has changed its mind and that this should be recognised,” Mr McMaster added.

Backing the petition, SNP MP Stephen Gethins said Labour and the Conservatives have entered an “omerta around the question of EU membership”. He told The Independent: “It is so good to see members of the public leading the charge on ensuring that we open up the debate on rejoin.

“Leaving the EU has left us poorer, less secure and taken away opportunities from young people and small businesses alike. Every day we see the damage that is being done, damage that could easily be reversed.