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Repeated invitations from European leaders for the UK to rejoin the EU prove the claim that Europe would not welcome the UK back is “nothing more than a defeatist trope”, campaigners stress.
The French finance minister, Roland Lescure, has invited Britain to “come all the way” back to the EU.
He is the latest senior European politician to welcome the idea of restoring Britain’s EU membership since Andy Burnham opened the door to rejoining in his conference speech.
Naomi Smith, Chief Executive of Best for Britain, said:
“These repeated invitations from our French allies prove the claim they would not welcome the UK back is nothing more than a defeatist trope. Whether President Macron last week, or the French finance minister this, our close neighbours have always been clear that they would open their arms to us joining the fold once more, accepting the rights and obligations of EU membership.
“Andy Burnham is right to say this option remains on the table, particularly given the almighty £92bn boost to GDP it brings, an economic shot in the arm his Chancellor would surely welcome to genuinely deliver growth in every postcode.”