Sadiq Khan to reiterate demand for UK to rejoin EU single market due to ‘immense damage’ of Brexit

Sadiq Khan is to stage a fresh Remainer push as the London mayor will once again reiterate his demand for Britain to rejoin the EU’s single market.

In a speech at the capital’s Mansion House today, Mr Khan will claim Brexit is causing ‘immense damage’ to the UK and will hit out at the ‘selective amnesia’ of those who don’t say so.

The mayor will accuse Government ministers of overseeing two years of ‘denial and avoidance’ since the Brexit transition period ended in January 2021.

He will also call for ‘greater alignment’ with Brussels – such as re-entering the EU’s customs union and single market, which would also restore free movement with the bloc.

Mr Khan’s latest intervention over Brexit will be seen as a swipe at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Despite having been a key proponent of a second EU referendum in the past, Sir Keir has recently taken a more hardline stance and insisted there is ‘no case for going back to the EU or going back into the single market’.

The Labour leader has also vowed to ‘make Brexit work’ if he becomes prime minister at the next general election and described the current UK-EU trade deal as ‘not very good’.

But senior Tories claimed that Mr Khan’s speech showed Labour – including Sir Keir – could not be trusted on Brexit.

Sadiq Khan will claim Brexit is causing ‘immense damage’ to the UK and will hit out at the ‘selective amnesia’ of those who don’t say so.

The London mayor’s latest intervention over Brexit will be seen as a swipe at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer

Senior Tory Brexiteer David Jones told MailOnline that Mr Khan’s call for ‘greater alignment’ was a ‘euphemism for rejoining’ the EU

Mr Khan has repeatedly tried to forge his own Brexit policy as London mayor and, during the negotiations on Britain’s trade deal, made his own trips to Brussels to try and influence EU officials.

In a speech at London’s Mansion House Government dinner on Thursday, he will push for new powers for the capital to be able to set its own immigration rules.

Mr Khan is expected to say: ‘The number of businesses in our city experiencing at least one skills shortage has now risen to almost seven in 10.

‘Devolving powers to London and allowing us to create a regional shortage occupation list would be one way to give businesses the ability to attract and retain talent in the areas they need it most.’

On the UK’s relationship with the EU, the mayor will add: ‘I simply can’t keep quiet about the immense damage Brexit is doing.

‘Ministers seem to have developed selective amnesia when it comes to one of the root causes of our problems.

‘Brexit can’t be airbrushed out of history or the consequences wished away.’

In a further swipe at those who don’t want to revisit the Brexit debate, Mr Khan will continue: ‘After two years of denial and avoidance, we must now confront the hard truth: Brexit isn’t working.

‘It’s weakened our economy, fractured our union and diminished our reputation. But, crucially, not beyond repair.

‘We need greater alignment with our European neighbours – a shift from this extreme, hard Brexit we have now to a workable version that serves our economy and people.

‘That includes having a pragmatic debate about the benefits of being a part of the customs union and the single market.’

The mayor will acknowledge that ‘no one wants to see a return to the division and deadlock’ of recent years.

But he will argue that what he perceives as Brexit’s detrimental effect comes ‘at a time when we can least afford it’ and must be addressed.

Senior Tory Brexiteer David Jones told MailOnline that Mr Khan’s call for ‘greater alignment’ was a ‘euphemism for rejoining’ the EU. 

He added: ‘Like many Labour politicians, Sadiq Khan has never respected the vote of the people in 2026.

‘He wants to return the UK to the grip of the EU and to sacrifice our hard-won sovereignty.

‘I have no doubt that, despite his protestations, that is precisely what Keir Starmer also wants.’