Britain could face a £35 billion bill if it ever rejoins the European Union, Brexit campaigners have warned, as calls for closer ties with Brussels reignite a fierce political battle.
The estimate, from pro-Brexit group Britain Unbound, is based on a hypothetical scenario in which the UK returns to the EU in 2028 without securing a budget rebate or special exemptions.
The warning comes after senior Labour figure Andy Burnham previously suggested Britain should seek to rejoin the bloc “in my lifetime” — comments he later attempted to soften.
The campaign group’s calculations are based on the EU’s proposed seven-year budget plans covering 2028 to 2034, which would see spending rise towards almost €2 trillion.
Brussels is also considering new revenue streams, including potential levies linked to carbon emissions, tobacco products and electronic waste.
Britain Unbound chief executive Steve Wright said supporters of rejoining the EU needed to confront the potential financial consequences.
“Those who wish to rejoin the EU should present their argument in the harsh reality of the present day,” he told The Sun, adding that the debate should not rely on a “rose-tinted picture of 2016”.
The group claimed the UK could be expected to contribute billions towards EU spending if it sought membership again, although the final figure would depend on negotiations over terms, rebates and exemptions.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel attacked any move towards EU membership, warning it could result in higher taxes for British households.
She said returning to the bloc would mean “yet more tax rises” and argued voters had already made their decision by backing Brexit.
Burnham, widely discussed as a future Labour leadership contender, reignited debate last year when he said he wanted the UK to rebuild its relationship with Europe and eventually rejoin the EU.
He said: “My view is that Brexit has been damaging, but I also believe the last thing we should do right now is re-run those arguments.
“I am not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU. I respect the decision that was made at the referendum and it is going to undermine everything I have said about strengthening democracy if we don’t respect that vote.”
However, after the comments sparked controversy, he moved to clarify that immediate re-entry was not Labour policy.
The latest intervention has reopened the long-running Brexit divide, with supporters arguing closer European ties could boost trade and investment, while critics warn that rejoining would come with a significant financial cost.
As Britain’s relationship with Brussels continues to evolve, the question of whether Brexit is permanent — or merely the first stage of a longer renegotiation — remains one of Westminster’s most explosive political fault lines.
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