But the demand has sparked fury from Labour backbenchers in the Red Wall. Jo White, the Bassetlaw MP who leads the party’s Red Wall group, said: “Now is not the time or the place to be talking about going back into the EU. What we need to focus on is good trade deals and what is best for our economy.”
Sir Sadiq made his demand for Britain to rejoin the EU in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
The arch-Remainer said: « I see on a daily basis the damage Brexit has done to not just London, but to Londoners, the damage economically, socially and culturally.
« I’m quite clear in terms of what needs to happen, which is, we should join the European Union. »
Sir Sadiq argued that « the facts have changed » and « the evidence has changed » as he pointed to the election of US President Donald Trump, growing global instability and the passage of time as reasons to revisit the issue.
He said: « We should, as a Labour Party, fight the next general election with a clear manifesto commitment, a vote for Labour means we would rejoin the European Union. I think it’s inevitable. »
Following his intervention, trade minister Sir Chris Bryant refused to rule out campaigning to rejoin the bloc.
He told Sky News: « I think we should be immensely ambitious about our relationship with the European Union.
“You know what we were promised in the Brexit referendum, which incidentally was a pack of lies, we were promised frictionless trade. Give me frictionless trade however you want it and do it fast. »
But Downing Street insisted that the PM is sticking to his « red lines » on not rejoining the customs union, single market or returning to freedom of movement.
His official spokesman said: « We have said previously, improving our relationship with the EU is in no way rowing back on Brexit.
« This is about taking sovereign decisions in the national interest while sticking to our red lines. »
Chancellor Rachel Reeves earlier this week set out plans to follow more of the EU’s rules amid Sir Keir’s ongoing Brexit « reset ».
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