Guy Verhofstadt has stated that the United Kingdom rejoining the European Union within the next five years is a “dream” of his. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I have a dream,” the MEP said, echoing civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Verhofstadt has previously stated that Brexit is “unworkable,” and he has criticised Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer for ruling out a return to the EU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The devil is not in the details – the very concept of Brexit is unworkable,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“As long as Starmer continues to rule out rejoining the single market and the EU, both Britain and the EU will suffer.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Mr Verhofstadt, veteran MEP and the former European Parliament Brexit coordinator suggested that Sir Keir has his priorities in the right place, saying: “What the Western world needs now is to come together around precisely the areas Starmer mentions: science, technology, research, security, foreign affairs”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sir Keir has ruled out a second referendum, taking a “make Brexit work” approach, and has ruled out support for a Swiss-style model of closer economic ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Labour leader has previously stated that there is “no case” for returning to the EU or the single market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In December, when asked if he could change his mind on the issue, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said, “No, I don’t think so. We left, and there is no case now for saying ‘go back,’ and back into the single market and customs union.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Others in the Labour Party, however, have campaigned for Britain to rejoin the EU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a speech earlier this month, London Mayor Sadiq Khan called for a “pragmatic debate” on rejoining the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He accused ministers of having “select amnesia” when it comes to Brexit, describing it as “one of the root causes of our problems”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Khan said politicians “can’t keep quiet about the immense damage Brexit is doing”.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Guy Verhofstadt has stated that the United Kingdom rejoining the European Union within the next five years is a “dream” of his. “I have a dream,” the MEP said, echoing … <\/p>\n