Support for Brexit in London has collapsed, the London Evening Standard reports, as Mayor Sadiq Khan steps up calls for the UK to seek re-entry to the European Union. new polling for the paper reveals a sharp fall in backing for Brexit across the capital, a shift that Mr Khan says underlines the economic and practical costs Londoners have faced as 2016. His intervention intensifies a fraught national debate, pitting the capital’s business and civic leaders against Westminster and raising fresh questions about the future of the UK’s relationship with Europe.
Brexit support collapses in London as polling shows broad shift toward pro EU stance driven by economic strain and generational change
The capital’s political landscape has tilted sharply as the latest polling for the Evening Standard reveals a dramatic fall in explicit support for the UK’s departure from the EU, with voters increasingly backing renewed ties and, in some quarters, a formal re-entry. Economic pressure – falling real wages,stagnating investment and mounting concerns from London’s business community – is being cited by voters as the primary motivator for change,while younger cohorts view EU membership as a route to greater opportunity and mobility. Mayor Sadiq Khan has seized the moment, amplifying calls for a national debate on rejoining the bloc and framing the argument around jobs, trade access and the protection of London’s global status.
Poll respondents and political analysts point to a mix of immediate financial strain and slow-burning demographic shifts as the key drivers behind the swing. Key indicators include:
- Economic squeeze: households naming the cost of living as their top concern.
- Generational change: far stronger pro-EU sentiment among voters under 35.
- Urban priorities: London’s diverse, international workforce pushing for closer European ties.
| Group | Pro-EU / Closer Ties |
|---|---|
| London overall | ~63% |
| Under 35 | ~78% |
| 65 and over | ~42% |
These shifts are already reshaping campaign rhetoric and will force national parties to confront an electorate in which economic realism and generational preference increasingly outweigh the old Brexit narrative.
Sadiq Khan spearheads renewed call for UK to rejoin EU and presents a practical roadmap for cross party negotiations and public engagement
Polling data published this week shows a dramatic drop in pro-Brexit sentiment across London, and the mayor has moved from commentary to a detailed political plan – urging westminster to open formal talks on a path back into the single market. Drawing on economic analysis and civic research, he argues that re-engagement would stabilise trade, unlock investment, and restore regulatory certainty for finance, transport and higher education sectors.The proposal is explicit about process: an independent commission to assess legal and economic consequences, a timetable for phased alignment with EU standards, and a commitment to cross-party negotiation rather than a unilateral drive by one party.
His practical roadmap sets out measurable steps to build consensus and public trust:
- Commission & Assessment: Establish an independent review panel to publish a risk and benefit analysis within 6 months.
- Cross-Party Forum: Convene parliamentary representatives to draft negotiating principles and a legislative template.
- Public Mandate: Commit to a binding referendum onyl after negotiations and a public data program are complete.
- Engagement Drive: National town halls,digital citizen assemblies and targeted youth outreach to ensure inclusive debate.
- Phased alignment: Short-term regulatory harmonisation followed by a transition timetable for full market reintegration.
The mayor insists this is a long-form democratic project – one that combines expert scrutiny, obvious timelines and sustained public engagement to rebuild a cross-party majority before any constitutional step is taken.
Businesses and financial institutions warn of sustained harm to London unless immediate policy fixes restore market access,talent mobility and regulatory alignment
City chiefs and senior executives warn that London risks a prolonged economic decline unless Westminster moves quickly to reverse the erosion of its financial center. Banks, asset managers and exchanges point to the loss of passporting, shrinking clearing volumes, and the steady relocation of roles to Dublin, Frankfurt and Amsterdam as clear signs of a diminished market position.The immediate consequences are lower tax revenues and a weakened corporate ecosystem; the longer-term threat is to London’s status as a global capital for capital markets. Industry statements urge immediate policy fixes that prioritise restored market access, unimpeded talent mobility and closer regulatory alignment with key partners to prevent irreversible damage.
Executives and trade bodies have proposed a clear, short-list of actions for ministers and regulators to consider:
- Negotiate bespoke equivalence or mutual recognition arrangements for financial services to restore cross-border activity.
- Reform immigration routes for highly skilled workers and fast-track visas for finance talent.
- Establish joint regulatory fora to synchronise rulemaking and avoid costly fragmentation.
- Agree data adequacy and transfer protocols to protect fintech and clearing operations.
With London Mayor Sadiq Khan publicly backing calls for deeper ties with the EU – including advocating a path back to full membership – business leaders say the political debate must now align with pragmatic economic measures to halt capital flight and safeguard jobs.
Experts recommend a binding national review, a consultative referendum and targeted London measures to fast track reintegration and protect the capital’s global role
A coalition of constitutional experts, economists and former diplomats has set out a pragmatic roadmap to undo years of fragmentation and restore close ties with Europe. Their proposal centres on a legally enforceable national review to map the economic and regulatory steps needed, followed by a nationwide consultative vote to measure public appetite before any formal negotiations begin. Immediate recommendations include:
- Independent commission with statutory powers and cross‑party portrayal;
- Clear timeline for negotiating transitional arrangements with the EU;
- Public consultative referendum to inform parliamentary mandate;
- Binding parliamentary oversight to translate the review’s findings into law.
Experts argue this sequence would create democratic legitimacy while avoiding the political whiplash that has dogged previous efforts.
On the London front, specialists say targeted interventions can protect the capital’s international competitiveness while a broader national process unfolds – a position echoed by Mayor Sadiq Khan. Priority measures focus on preserving financial services access, easing talent mobility and establishing fast‑track regulatory bridges with key EU partners. The table below outlines a short, actionable package aimed at delivering rapid stabilisation and signalling commitment to re‑integration:
| Measure | Expected impact / timeframe |
|---|---|
| Temporary financial passporting | Maintain market access – 3-6 months |
| Short‑term work mobility visas | Plug skills gaps – 1-4 months |
| Regulatory alignment taskforce | Reduce compliance costs – 6-12 months |
Proponents say these targeted steps would buy time for the national review to proceed while safeguarding London’s role as a global hub.
Concluding Remarks
As the capital’s backing for Brexit continues to erode and Mr Khan amplifies calls for the UK to rejoin the EU, London has once again underscored its divergence from much of the country on Europe and global engagement. The shift reflects broader economic and demographic pressures in the city and a political landscape in which local leaders are increasingly willing to press a national debate.
How Westminster responds – whether with policy recalibration,increased political confrontation,or renewed public discussion – will determine whether this is a moment of fleeting rhetoric or the start of a sustained movement. in the meantime, London’s stance is likely to remain a defining theme in the months ahead as parties and voters weigh the future of Britain’s relationship with Europe.