Stay Out anti-EU campaign launches ahead of UK-EU summit
The newly formed Stay Out campaign has launched ahead of the UK-EU summit, warning that renewed integration efforts will drain public finances and revive political divisions.
A newly formed anti-EU campaign has launched ahead of an upcoming UK-EU summit, warning that renewed integration efforts will drain public finances and revive old political divisions.
The freshly minted "Stay Out" campaign made its debut with a warning that any future attempt to take the country back into the European Union would prove costly to taxpayers. According to reporting by the BBC, Prime Minister Andy Burnham is currently exploring closer ties with the bloc. The prime minister is expected to sign new agreements covering food, energy, and youth mobility, maintaining that a beneficial deal can be struck for both sides.
Media additions
Mr Burnham has previously argued that Brexit has done "more harm than good". However, he has also ruled out making major changes to the nation's relationship with the bloc prior to the next general election. When questioned about his long-term outlook in September, he stated a desire to examine the pros and cons of various options for Britain's future relationship, noting that while he had previously advocated rejoining within his lifetime, that view was not necessarily the case now. This nuanced diplomatic approach has caused political ripples across Westminster, tying into broader debates documented in our politics coverage.
The opposition campaign is chaired by Oliver Lewis, a former Vote Leave worker who also acted as deputy chief negotiator for the UK government during trade negotiations with the bloc.
"The country has had enough of arguing about Europe, and it is time to move on and spend our money on our own priorities."
Oliver Lewis, Stay Out chair, via BBC
The group has also drawn backing from Lord Gove, who served as chairman of the Vote Leave campaign during the referendum. Lord Gove warned that reopening the Brexit question would commit the country to another decade of fractious negotiations.
He added that members of the public are desperate for Westminster to concentrate on delivering domestic priorities rather than focusing on the EU."Rejoining would mean handing back control of our laws, borders, money and trade, and paying a good deal more for membership than we did before."
Lord Gove, Vote Leave chairman, via BBC
Accompanying the campaign's launch is new economic analysis released by the group. The figures put forward by the campaign claim that rejoining the EU would carry a heavy annual price tag.
| Metric | Campaign Estimate | Verification Status |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Cost of Rejoining | £39.3bn a year | Not independently verified by BBC News |
| Weekly Cost Breakdown | £750m a week | Not independently verified by BBC News |
While domestic political tensions brew over Westminster's approach to the continent, European authorities are pressing ahead with separate structural initiatives. The European Commission is moving forward with the implementation of the EU’s Bioeconomy Strategy, introducing three complementary initiatives designed to strengthen the bloc's bio-based industries. These include the Bio-based Europe Alliance, the Bioeconomy Investment Deployment Group, and an Expert Group on Bioeconomy. Detailed information and updates on these measures can be found through official channels such as Commission steps up action on EU bioeconomy.
The European Commission initiatives aim to address long-standing hurdles where innovative European startups are acquired by non-European investors before reaching full industrial deployment. By mobilising corporate offtake commitments and connecting producers with major European buyers, the Alliance seeks to foster strategic autonomy. Organisations interested in participating in the Bio-based Europe Alliance faced a submission deadline for expressions of interest, ahead of upcoming milestones on the international calendar.
What to watch next
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to sign new agreements on food, energy, and youth mobility.
- The Global Bioeconomy Summit is scheduled to take place in Dublin, Ireland, where founding members of the Bio-based Europe Alliance will be formally marked.
