Badenoch rejects EU rejoin and seeks to shut down referendum debate

Kemi Badenoch used an interview on GB News's The Camilla Tominey Show to reject any return to the EU, saying 'Rejoining the EU is not the answer.' She was asked whether the Conservatives would campaign against rejoining if Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, wrote in the Sunday Times that the UK should do so. Badenoch said the Conservatives respected the referendum result and that it was time to make the best of Brexit.

According to GB News, Badenoch said she wanted to 'shut down this debate' and did not want another referendum campaign. She warned that reopening the question would put the country 'on pause' again and said families had fought over the issue. She pointed to Andy Burnham, saying the indications were that he wanted to relitigate the referendum, and said she would do her best to stop him reopening the question. She mentioned a meeting due on 20 November.

GB News reported that Badenoch declined to be drawn on working with Nigel Farage. She said she was not interested in 'future hypotheticals' and that her life did not revolve around him. She also said she was not interested in doing deals with Reform or Restore politicians, while still wanting Reform voters back.

The broadcast did not include a Liberal Democrat statement on the EU single market or customs union. At the close, GB News's interviewer noted that Wendy Chamberlain of the Liberal Democrats thought a general election would be called for 10 December. Badenoch said the Conservatives would be ready whenever an election came, and suggested Labour would call one to raise taxes or break its manifesto.