Apply for the UK to join the European Union as a full member as soon as possible
136,650 people signed this petition to the UK Parliament after it opened on 31 October 2024; it closed on 30 April 2025. The Government responded on 19 November 2024. MPs debated it in Westminster Hall on 24 March 2025.
The petition
The petition's creator is not named in the Petitions site's published record. Quoted in full from the UK Parliament petitions site.
Apply for the UK to join the European Union as a full member as soon as possible
I believe joining the EU would boost the economy, increase global influence, improve collaboration and provide stability & 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.
I think the Single Market would bring inward investment, frictionless trade and economic growth benefiting industry and consumers alike.
Full membership could also amplify the UK’s voice on the global stage, allowing it to influence EU policy and regulations, including trade, security and environment.
Joining the EU could provide access to science & research projects and give UK citizens the right to live, work & study across member states, enhancing cultural exchange & personal opportunities.
The Government's response
The Government published its response on 19 November 2024; the petitions site lists the Cabinet Office as responsible. Its summary:
The Government was elected on a manifesto that made clear there will be no return to EU membership. However, we are determined to reset the UK-EU relationship, putting it on a more solid footing.
The opening 376 words of the 433-word response:
Since taking office this Government has been working to reset the relationship with our European friends. As part of this, the Government aims to strengthen ties, secure a broad-based security pact and tackle barriers to trade with the EU.
The President of the European Commission and the Prime Minister have met several times and have agreed to strengthen the relationship between the EU and UK. This is not about renegotiating or relitigating Brexit, but about looking forward and realising the potential of the UK-EU relationship.
In particular, we want to work closely to address wider global challenges including economic headwinds, geopolitical competition, irregular migration, climate change and energy prices, which pose fundamental challenges to the shared values of the United Kingdom and the European Union and provide the strategic driver for stronger cooperation.
There will be issues which are difficult to resolve, as well as areas on which we will stand firm. We have been clear we are not going back to the arguments of the past; we are not rejoining the single market or customs union and we will not return to freedom of movement. But we are committed to finding constructive ways to work together and deliver for the British people. This means we will respect international law and shared institutions. We are committed to implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith and protecting the UK internal market. And we are committed to staying in the ECHR.
We will now work with the EU to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit, such as the economy, energy, security and resilience. We have been clear that the trading relationship can be improved. We have already said we will seek to negotiate a veterinary/SPS agreement to prevent unnecessary border checks and help tackle the cost of food and will work to help our touring artists and aim to secure mutual recognition for professional qualifications to help open up new markets for UK service exporters.
We are working with the higher education sector to ensure our world leading universities continue to attract the brightest and best and support our economy. Having associated to Horizon Europe, the UK wants its scientists, researchers and businesses to continue to work together with partners in Europe and elsewhere.
Read the full response on the petitions site.
Where the signatures came from
Signatures came from 650 constituencies. Measured against each constituency's electorate at the 2024 general election, the most came from Brighton Pavilion, with 7.5 signatures per 1,000 electors (562 in all).
130,693 of the signatures were from the UK and 5,957 from elsewhere, by the location signers gave.
| Constituency | Signatures | Electorate, July 2024 | Per 1,000 electors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton Pavilion | 562 | 74,786 | 7.5 |
| Cambridge | 499 | 70,321 | 7.1 |
| Hove and Portslade | 482 | 74,063 | 6.5 |
| Hornsey and Friern Barnet | 440 | 69,885 | 6.3 |
| Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven | 419 | 68,784 | 6.1 |
| Bath | 415 | 69,662 | 6.0 |
| Edinburgh North and Leith | 471 | 78,411 | 6.0 |
| Oxford West and Abingdon | 410 | 69,851 | 5.9 |
| Bristol Central | 354 | 62,735 | 5.6 |
| Norwich South | 408 | 76,296 | 5.3 |
| Region | Signatures |
|---|---|
| South East | 22,095 |
| London | 16,640 |
| South West | 14,987 |
| North West | 13,442 |
| East of England | 11,970 |
| Scotland | 10,968 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 9,563 |
| West Midlands | 8,471 |
| East Midlands | 8,342 |
| Wales | 6,898 |
| North East | 4,840 |
| Northern Ireland | 1,295 |
Debate in Parliament
MPs debated the petition in Westminster Hall on 24 March 2025. Read the debate in Hansard. House of Commons Library debate pack.
Source and receipt
- https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700005.jsonUK Parliament Petitions API · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
1f17f28ea8f64250… - The petition on petition.parliament.uk
The petition's words are its creator's and the response is the Government's; this site quotes both and gives no view on either. Signature counts can still change while a petition is open. To report an error, send a correction request.