Overview
- Khan told The Observer his ultimate goal is for the UK to rejoin the EU in his lifetime and pressed for membership of a customs union and the single market.
- European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said Brussels is ready to engage if the UK wishes to explore customs‑union options.
- Downing Street ruled out rejoining a customs union, and Labour’s leadership has reiterated its manifesto pledge not to sign up to the existing arrangement.
- Khan’s stance highlights party tensions, with figures including David Lammy, Wes Streeting and Peter Kyle previously leaving the door open to considering a customs union.
- Khan frames the shift as an economic necessity, citing analyses such as a Cambridge Econometrics estimate that Brexit has cost the UK about £140bn, as the issue grows for the next election.