Brexit U-turn: The staggering price rejoining the EU could cost British taxpayers, revealed

Exclusive Revealed: The staggering price rejoining the EU could cost British taxpayers The Prime Minister has been scolded by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch for his latest Brexit intervention Sign up to the Politics Newsletter Email address Sign up I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules. Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us British taxpayers could face a staggering bill of up to £41billion a year if Prime Minister Andy Burnham rejoins the European Union, new data has found. The report, produced by the conservative Bow Group think tank, estimates that the UK’s annual gross contribution could range between £28billion and £41billion a year if Britain completed a Brexit U-turn and rejoined the bloc. Its central estimate puts the figure at around £34billion, based on the European Commission’s proposed long-term budget for 2028-2034. The analysis comes amid renewed debate over Brexit after the PM signalled that Britain should consider a much closer relationship with Brussels, including the possibility of returning to full EU membership. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Mr Burnham has argued that Brexit has "done more harm than good" and promised a "serious dialogue" and "pragmatic approach" to the UK’s long-term relationship with Europe, opening the door to options he had previously ruled out. He said of his stance on the EU: "Our immediate priority is securing a successful outcome at the summit, and I believe we should then set up a serious dialogue about the different options for our relationship in the long term." He has also said the existing relationship with the EU is “not good enough”, arguing that closer cooperation could help improve economic growth and tackle immigration. The Bow Group’s figures estimate that a gross contribution of approximately €40billion, equivalent to £34billion, would represent the UK’s share of the Commission’s proposed 2028 budget under its central scenario. The staggering cost of the UK rejoining the EU on British taxpayers has been revealed | PA The upper estimate of €48billion, or £41billion, assumes the EU’s proposed financing rate is applied to an enlarged income base that includes the UK. The lower estimate of €33billion, or £28billion, assumes a reduced budget ceiling and a smaller British share of the Union’s income. The report stresses that the figures are "illustrative" rather than a definitive forecast. Mr Burnham has sought to frame the debate around the economic consequences of remaining outside the EU, rather than treating the Brexit settlement as beyond reconsideration. In September, The Prime Minister said: "I think we have seen growth harmed by Brexit and it's hard to see how we can get back to the higher levels of growth we once had by staying too distant from our largest market." LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Andy Burnham pushes for deal to hand EU judges power over Britain as part of new migration pact Andy Burnham is out of ideas – revisiting Brexit shows the PM doesn’t trust the voters – Katie Lam Shabana Mahmood's Trump-style visa ban shut down as embassy hits out at 'political gimmick' Andy Burnham has performed a major U-turn on Brexit | GETTY During this week's Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Burnham was accused of "doing Russia’s dirty work" as Tory leader Kemi Badenoch demanded answers over his claim Moscow attempted to interfere in the 2016 referendum vote. Mrs Badenoch told MPs: "This is the first time I have ever heard the head of MI5 slap down a Prime Minister for doing Russia's dirty work for them. "Either the Prime Minister knew what he was doing on that podcast, trying to undermine the 2016 referendum, or he opened his mouth on a matter of national security and said the first thing that came into his head. "So does the Prime Minister agree with the director general of MI5 that talking up Russian interference was a mistake?" Mr Burnham responded: "Well, I could ask her, Mr. Speaker whether she's even read the Russia report yet. "I also wonder whether she's read the full comments from the former head of MI6. "Because if she had, she wouldn't have made the statements that she just made in this in this House." With Mr Burnham promising a longer-term discussion about Britain’s place in Europe, the cost of membership is likely to become a central issue in the debate over whether the UK should seek to reverse Brexit or pursue a less ambitious agreement with Brussels. 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