UK businesses reject calls to rejoin EU, says CBI chief

CBI director-general Rain Newton-Smith has said British businesses do not want to reopen the Brexit debate, rejoin the EU or return to a customs union, even though many firms still face the costs of leaving the bloc.

The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that Newton-Smith said there was no appetite among business leaders to relitigate Brexit. She said companies want barriers to trade reduced, but not a fresh argument over membership.

Business wants pragmatism, not another referendum

Newton-Smith's comments put the CBI at odds with some politicians who want a deeper reset in relations with Brussels. Labour figures, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey and Green politicians have all pressed for closer ties, according to the FT.

Her intervention came as Brexit is back in focus on the 10th anniversary of the 2016 referendum. The political debate has shifted toward whether the UK should deepen cooperation with the EU, rather than whether it should rejoin outright.

Starmer rules out rejoining

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has publicly ruled out rejoining the EU and said the UK should not waste time looking backwards to Brexit. He repeated that position at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, saying his government remained committed to its manifesto pledge not to rejoin.

That leaves Labour trying to balance calls for a more pragmatic EU relationship with a firm line against reopening the membership question.

Evidence of pressure for a reset

The wider debate has been fuelled by recent polling and policy research. A European Council on Foreign Relations survey published on June 21 found that 66% of respondents across 15 EU countries would support Britain rejoining if it chose to do so.

Separately, the Centre for European Reform said on June 18 that Brexit has reduced UK exports to the EU and argued that rejoining only the customs union would not fully repair the damage, including to services.

Newton-Smith acknowledged that Brexit has cost business, but said that does not mean firms want to reopen the referendum fight. Her remarks underline the split between economic criticism of Brexit and political reluctance to revisit membership itself.

The tension is likely to continue as parties mark the anniversary of the referendum and debate how far the UK should go in rebuilding ties with the EU.