Apply to Rejoin the EU as soon as possible to increase growth in the UK
This petition gathered 111,687 signatures between 8 December 2025 and 8 June 2026, according to the Parliament petitions site. The Government responded on 7 January 2026. MPs debated it in Westminster Hall on 12 October 2026.
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 to Rejoin the EU as soon as possible to increase growth in the UK
We believe Brexit's not working. The OBR judges that the UK economy is smaller and trade is weaker because of Brexit, and it will just get worse. 10 years after the Brexit vote, let's apply to rejoin the EU, reverse the damage, boost growth, increase tax revenues and restore opportunities in the UK
The OBR (Office for Budget Responsibility) March 2025 economic forecasts show the Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement will reduce long-run productivity by 4% due mainly to the increase in non-tariff barriers on trade with both imports and exports 15% lower, and that new trade deals will not have a material impact to offset this. Also that savings on payments to the EU have been absorbed by increased Government spending.
It's time to seek to rejoin the EU, remove those barriers and boost the economy.
The Government's response
The Government published its response on 7 January 2026; the petitions site lists the Cabinet Office as responsible. Its summary:
The UK will not be rejoining the EU, but this Government has reset its relationship with the EU with a new strategic partnership: A deal that is good for UK bills, borders, jobs and growth.
The response in full:
The Government was elected in July 2024 with a clear mandate to strengthen our relationship with the EU without rejoining the Single Market, Customs Union or returning to freedom of movement.
Since taking office, we have reset our relations with European partners in order to improve our diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation.
On 19 May 2025, at the first ever Summit between the UK and the EU, the Prime Minister announced a deal with the EU that will deliver on what the British public voted for last year. It’s good for bills, good for our borders, and good for jobs.
The deal we have struck will reduce trade barriers through the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, increase energy efficiency through cooperation on electricity trading, and allow a cheaper transition to net zero through linking our Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS). These measures reduce costs for businesses, meaning better prices and more choice to consumers, and they will support British jobs and livelihoods.
Through this deal, the UK has unprecedented access to the EU market – the best of any country outside the EU or EFTA. The SPS and ETS linking measures alone are set to add nearly £9 billion a year to the UK economy by 2040, in a significant boost for growth.
Our focus for 2026 is all about driving forward. Negotiations for the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027 have concluded and we are now working to conclude negotiations on the Youth Experience Scheme, establishing a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Area and linking our Emissions Trading Systems (ETS) by the time of the next EU-UK Summit, so that businesses and consumers can benefit from the impacts of these agreements as soon as possible.
This Government is seizing the flexibility of Brexit - making the best choices for business and citizens from its position outside the EU, through significant deals with the US and India, and now a new partnership with the EU - each decision taken to support UK growth. This is making a Brexit that works for Britain.
Cabinet Office
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 5.3 signatures per 1,000 electors (397 in all).
105,694 of the signatures were from the UK and 5,993 from elsewhere, by the location signers gave.
| Constituency | Signatures | Electorate, July 2024 | Per 1,000 electors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton Pavilion | 397 | 74,786 | 5.3 |
| Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven | 358 | 68,784 | 5.2 |
| Hove and Portslade | 371 | 74,063 | 5.0 |
| Cambridge | 323 | 70,321 | 4.6 |
| Bath | 315 | 69,662 | 4.5 |
| Hastings and Rye | 340 | 75,939 | 4.5 |
| Sheffield Hallam | 323 | 72,900 | 4.4 |
| South Devon | 319 | 72,261 | 4.4 |
| Lewes | 301 | 76,166 | 4.0 |
| Truro and Falmouth | 294 | 72,982 | 4.0 |
| Region | Signatures |
|---|---|
| South East | 18,212 |
| South West | 12,748 |
| London | 12,020 |
| North West | 11,109 |
| East of England | 10,479 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 8,126 |
| West Midlands | 7,577 |
| East Midlands | 7,283 |
| Scotland | 7,001 |
| Wales | 5,722 |
| North East | 3,868 |
| Northern Ireland | 816 |
Debate in Parliament
MPs debated the petition in Westminster Hall on 12 October 2026. Read the debate in Hansard. House of Commons Library debate pack.
Source and receipt
- https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/749128.jsonUK Parliament Petitions API · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
02c63561a0eb351b… - 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.