Rejoin EU
The Rejoin EU Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | TBD |
| Deputy Leader | John Stevens |
| Chairman | Brendan Donnelly |
| Founded | February 17, 2020 |
| Headquarters | 86-90 Paul Street London EC2A 4NE[1][2] |
| Ideology | Pro-Europeanism Anti-Brexit |
| Political position | Single-issue |
| Colours | Blue |
| Website | |
| therejoineuparty | |
The Rejoin EU Party (known simply as Rejoin EU) is a minor[3] pro-European, single-issue political party in the United Kingdom, established in February 2020 by Brendan Donnelly and John Stevens, two former Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The party was founded shortly after Brexit took place on 31 January 2020, and campaigns for the re-accession of the UK to the European Union.
History
[edit]Background and ideology
[edit]Rejoin EU was registered in February 2020, shortly after the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. It was founded by anti-Brexit campaigners including Brendan Donnelly and John Stevens, two former Conservative MEPs who led the Pro-Euro Conservative Party from 1991 to 2001.[4]
Rejoin EU positions itself as a pro-EU alternative to the "cautious, ineffective or, in some cases, downright hostile policies on Europe held by other major parties".[5] It argues that re-joining the European Union would give the UK defence and security benefits, citing the Common Security and Defence Policy.[6]
Donnelly has said the party follows a parallel strategy to UKIP, by contesting elections, especially under the first-past-the-post system, which could put pressure on the main parties to adopt more pro-European policies.[7]
Establishment
[edit]Richard Hewison, stood for the party at the 2021 London mayoral election,[8] placing eight with 28,012 votes (1.1%). Later that year, the party also stood candidates at the Chesham and Amersham, Batley and Spen, Old Bexley and Sidcup and North Shropshire by-elections, each time receiving less than 0.7% of the vote.[9]
The party gained its first and only elected office in 2022, when the party chairman Andrew Smith became a parish councillor in Oxfordshire.[7] In December 2022, the party stood at both the City of Chester and Stretford and Urmston by-elections, achieving 1.0% and 1.3%, respectively.[9]
Hewison was also the party's candidate at the 2023 Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election, during which he criticised the Labour Party for its stance on Brexit.[10]
Volt UK endorsed the party during the 2024 London Assembly election, with Hewison saying that Rejoin EU would not contest the mayoral election that year, as incumbent mayor Sadiq Khan had made "strong pro-EU comments".[11][non-primary source needed]
Rejoin EU fielded 26 candidates, mainly across London, at the 2024 general election,[12] including Brendan Donnelly who stood in Finchley and Golders Green.[13] The party received 9,245 votes (0.03%), with none of its candidates holding their deposits.[14]
In March 2025, Donnelly told the party, at its first annual conference, that it would stand at the Runcorn and Helsby by-election.[15] The party selected John Stevens, who came tenth with 129 votes (0.4%). On 23 May 2026, Rejoin EU announced Peter Ward as their candidate for the 2026 Makerfield by-election.[16]
John Stevens stood for the party at the 2026 Clacton by-election, targeting the 'anti-Brexit vote'.[17][18] He placed third with 492 votes (1.4%).[19] Nigel Farage was re-elected and this third place was highest place result for Rejoin EU.[20] The Guardian wrote that Stevens was running a "highly professional, constituency-wide campaign".[21]
Richard Hewison stood down as the party leader on the 22 August 2026.[22]
Electoral performance
[edit]House of Commons
[edit]| Constituency | Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battersea | Georgina Burford-Connole | 401 | 0.9 |
| Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket | Richard Baker-Howard | 350 | 0.7 |
| Chipping Barnet | Richard Hewison | 379 | 0.7 |
| Cities of London and Westminster | Liz Burford | 352 | 0.9 |
| Ealing Southall | Peter Ward | 475 | 1.0 |
| Fareham and Waterlooville | Edward Dean | 210 | 0.4 |
| Finchley and Golders Green | Brendan Donnelly | 486 | 1.0 |
| Hammersmith and Chiswick | Bill Colegrave | 821 | 1.8 |
| Hampstead and Highgate | Christie Elan-Kane | 532 | 1.1 |
| Hendon | Ben Rend | 233 | 0.6 |
| Kensington and Bayswater | John Stevens | 486 | 1.2 |
| Leyton and Wanstead | Simon Mark Bezer | 244 | 0.6 |
| Melton and Syston | Matt Shouler | 288 | 0.6 |
| Old Bexley and Sidcup | Laurent Williams | 251 | 0.5 |
| Oxford East | Andrew Smith | 425 | 1.1 |
| Peckham | Alex Kerr | 285 | 0.7 |
| Pendle and Clitheroe | Christopher Thompson | 109 | 0.4 |
| Preston | Joseph O'Meachair | 216 | 0.5 |
| Putney | Felix Burford-Connole | 289 | 0.7 |
| Rutland and Stamford | Joanna Burrows | 409 | 0.8 |
| Sevenoaks | Elwyn Jones | 298 | 0.6 |
| Sheffield Hallam | Sam Chapman | 409 | 0.8 |
| South West Hertfordshire | Victor Silkin | 232 | 0.5 |
| Stretford and Urmston | Jim Newell | 308 | 0.7 |
| Tooting | Jas Alduk | 370 | 0.7 |
| Tottenham | Andrew Miles | 306 | 0.8 |
Parliamentary by-elections
[edit]| Election | Candidate | Votes | % | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Chesham and Amersham by-election | Brendan Donnelly | 101 | 0.3 | 8th |
| 2021 Batley and Spen by-election | Andrew Smith | 75 | 0.2 | 13th |
| 2021 Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election | Richard Hewison | 151 | 0.7 | 8th |
| 2021 North Shropshire by-election | Boris Been-Bunged | 58 | 0.2 | 11th |
| 2022 City of Chester by-election | Richard Hewison | 277 | 1.0 | 6th |
| 2022 Stretford and Urmston by-election | Jim Newell | 237 | 1.3 | 6th |
| 2023 Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election | Richard Hewison | 105 | 0.3 | 10th |
| 2025 Runcorn and Helsby by-election | John Stevens | 129 | 0.4 | 10th |
| 2026 Gorton and Denton by-election | Joseph O'Meachair | 98 | 0.3 | 8th |
| 2026 Makerfield by-election | Peter Mark Ward | 35 | 0.1 | 10th |
| 2026 Clacton by-election | John Stevens | 492 | 1.4 | 3rd |
London mayoral elections
[edit]Results as published by London Elects.
| Year | Candidate | Votes | % | ± |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Richard Hewison | 28,012 | 1.1 | New |
London Assembly
[edit]Results as published by London Elects.
| Year | Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | London-wide list | 49,389 | 1.9% | 0 / 25 |
New |
| 2024 | London-wide list | 62,528 | 2.5% | 0 / 25 |
 0.6% |
Local elections
[edit]The party had 15 candidates across 15 wards at the 2026 local elections,[23] none of whom where elected.
References
[edit]- ↑ "The Rejoin EU Party - The Electoral Commission". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ "REJOIN EU PARTY LTD overview". GOV.UK. Companies House. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ Steemers, Kai (2024). "The United Kingdom's Rejoin movement: A post-Brexit analysis of framing strategies". The British Journal of Politics and International Relations. 26 (4): 1273–1298. doi:10.1177/13691481241269308.
- ↑ Glover, Julian (10 December 2001). "Pro-European Tories join Lib Dems". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ "Gorton and Denton by-election: Rejoin EU choose Joseph O'Meachair". BBC News. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ "UK should take Ukraine's advice and rejoin EU, Rejoin EU Party says". London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com. 13 April 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- 1 2 Jones, M. (2026). No Second Chances: The Inside Story of the Campaign for a Second EU Referendum. United Kingdom: Biteback Publishing. ISBN 9781837360291.
- ↑ "Hewison: 'Brexit is a disaster for London'". BBC News. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 "UK Parliament election results: Rejoin EU - by-elections". UK Parliament election results. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ Moules, James (15 July 2023). "The Rejoin EU Party hits out at Starmer's Brexit stance". The New World. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ "Volt UK supports the Rejoin EU party in the London Assembly Election on May 2nd". Volt UK. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ Colchester, Max; Luhnow, David (15 June 2024). "As Britain Gears Up for an Election, No One Is Talking About Brexit". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ Toms, Adam (12 June 2024). "Londoners in tight election seat use private healthcare and say Tories should 'get house in order'". www.mylondon.news. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Results for the UK general election on 4 July 2024 - Elections contested by Rejoin EU". UK Parliament election results. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ "Rejoin EU pro-European party targets Runcorn & Helsby voters". Chester and District Standard. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ "Rejoin EU announce candidate for Makerfield by-election". BBC News. 23 May 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ Croft, Ethan (12 August 2026). "Meet Nigel Farage's true nemesis". The New Statesman.
- ↑ "Clacton voters can put reversing Brexit back on agenda, says ex MEP taking on Farage". The Independent. 26 July 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ "Binface surges and 32 others trail behind". ABC News. 14 August 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ "Reform UK's Nigel Farage increases majority as Clacton MP with resounding win". Clacton and Frinton Gazette. 14 August 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ Nixon, Simon (11 August 2026). "What does it say about the UK's pro-Europeans that they hide their message behind a bin?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
- ↑ "Press". The Rejoin EU Party. 17 August 2026. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
- ↑ "2026 local election data summary". democracyclub.org.uk. 29 April 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.