Former Brexit Department Head Calls for Rethinking EU Membership Amid Rights Concerns
Introduction
Philip Rycroft, former head of the UK''s Department for Exiting the European Union, has publicly stated that Britain should start a discussion about possibly rejoining the EU. He pointed to unfulfilled promises from the Leave campaign and economic problems. At the same time, issues about the rights of EU citizens in the UK and British citizens in the EU continue, and funding for charities that help them has been stopped.
Main Body
Rycroft wrote in The Times that the ambitious promises of the Brexit campaign, such as a major trade deal with the United States and strong economic growth, have not come true. He noted that most economic studies show a significant drop in GDP after leaving the single market, and that the argument for re-entry ''is there to be won,'' although the process would be long and uncertain. His comments match a growing feeling within the Labour Party, where some cabinet ministers are urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to seek closer ties with the EU, for example by joining a customs union or the single market. Starmer has previously said he is open to ''even closer alignment'' with the single market but has repeated that rejoining the single market or customs union is not being considered. In a separate development, a European parliament hearing discussed concerns about the rights of children born to EU citizens in the UK who may not have applied for settled status and could face high healthcare charges. Michal Meduna of the European Commission pointed out that the UK''s approach has serious effects on newborn children. The Home Office faced criticism for ending funding for charities that help vulnerable EU citizens with late settlement applications. The charity Settled says it receives hundreds of requests for advice each week without money from the Home Office. British in Europe, a coalition representing British citizens in the EU, stated that its main staff now work without pay and asked the UK government for funding. The UK government explained why it stopped the funding, pointing out that it had spent £32 million since 2019 and that fewer applications are now being made, with other support available through the settlement scheme resolution centre.
Conclusion
The debate about the UK''s relationship with the EU continues. A former senior official has called for a new look at membership, while practical problems with citizens'' rights and support services are still not solved. The government keeps its position against rejoining the single market or customs union, but there is growing political pressure from within to get closer to the EU.