UK-EU relations: Tony Blair and Danuta Hubner call for reset

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former European Union Commissioner Danuta Hubner are calling for a reset of relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union. In a paper published by the Tony Blair Institute titled “A Path to Rejoining a Reformed Europe,” Blair suggests that Britain should signal an intention to enter into a structured formal relationship with Europe and initiate negotiations if the terms are appropriate.

Danuta Hubner stated that Brexit “is not working” and noted that the geopolitical landscape has changed significantly since the 2016 referendum. While the UK and EU currently align on security and support for Ukraine, Hubner observed that discussions regarding a relationship reset often revert to previous disputes over “cherrypicking and red lines.”

The calls for re-evaluating the UK's status come as political pressure mounts on leadership to reconsider the Brexit issue, with recent polling suggesting a commitment to rejoin the EU could improve electoral prospects for the Labour Party.