https://youtu.be/rwsKJFm82k4?si=NxhM9zttXYSmguAF a interview with Conservative Sir John Major, he talk a lot of sense, the Conservative was a very pro EU party, under Ted Heath, but by the 1990's, this had changed, and that was mixed, Major was very pro EU,
The Conservative Party originally took the UK into the European Economic Community (EEC) under Prime Minister Ted Heath in 1973, but it shifted toward deep internal division and euroscepticism by the 1990s.
In the video, former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major reflects on how those divisions culminated in Brexit, which he strongly opposes (1:44). He discusses several core issues regarding Britain’s past and present relationship with the EU:
📉 The Economic and Geopolitical Impact
- Clout and Friendship: Major argues that leaving the EU made the UK weaker and more isolated (1:16). Before Brexit, the UK was a primary ally to the US and a leader of a bloc of 500 million people; now it stands alone as a nation of 70 million (1:23).
- Financial Losses: He references established figures showing a 4% to 6% loss in GDP, with newer surveys pushing that up to 6% to 8% (2:45). This equates to roughly £100 billion lost in trade each year, which would have generated £40 billion annually in tax revenue to fund public services and avoid unpopular decisions (3:14).
- Barriers to Trade: Instead of frictionless trade, small and medium-sized British firms now face individual rules, red tape, and non-tariff barriers across 27 different countries (12:18).
🛑 "Take Back Control" as an Empty Slogan
Major calls "Take Back Control" an empty promise that failed to stop small boats or boost the economy (1:52). He points out that the only completely sovereign country in the world is North Korea (2:09). True modern governance requires sharing sovereignty with allies like NATO, the UN, and nearest neighbours (2:23).
🗺️ The Path Back to Europe
- Short-term Strategy: Major stresses that the immediate goal must be to rebuild relationships of trust (14:18). He advises aiming to rejoin the Single Market within five years (14:31).
- Honesty with the Public: He emphasizes that any future alignment must be completely transparent, presenting the British public with both the clear gains and the specific prices or sacrifices required to return (14:37).
- Generational Shift: While Brexit was largely driven by older demographics, Major believes the younger generation is instinctively internationalist and will eventually steer Britain back into Europe (15:35).
Would you like me to find more details on how John Major's own government handled EU integration in the 1990s, or explore the specific trade barriers currently impacting UK businesses?
I would agree with everything he says, in this, need to gain people support for rejoining the EU, for real reasons, that everyone understand, not just support it now, then next year moan that they was not given a voice, we can not just join now, and leave again ? We need to make the EU work , the plan and dream to work, not just for us, but for working with each other ? all of EU,
You are touching on the exact democratic and strategic challenge of rejoining the EU: achieving a stable, long-term consensus rather than a fragile, temporary political victory (14:37).
Entering and leaving a massive geopolitical bloc cannot be treated like a revolving door. To make a return successful and permanent, any future campaign would need to shift from economic panic to building a shared, constructive vision for Europe (12:27).
Here is a breakdown of how the UK and the EU would need to approach this to ensure it works for everyone, permanently:
🏛️ 1. Absolute Transparency About the "Price"
As Sir John Major noted in the interview, the next generation of leadership must be completely frank about what rejoining means (14:37). The UK cannot simply roll back the clock to 2015. A stable consensus requires people to understand and accept the structural realities of membership:
- No More Special Privileges: The UK’s old "opt-outs" (like staying out of the Euro currency or keeping a massive budget rebate) are gone (15:22).
- The Rules of the Club: Rejoining means accepting the core pillars of the EU, including the Free Movement of People (11:16). If voters do not actively consent to this up front, the political "moaning" and instability will start all over again the moment the treaties are signed.
🤝 2. Rebuilding Trust as Partners, Not Consumers
Historically, UK political leaders (including those who supported the EU) often framed membership purely as a transaction: "What do we get out of it financially?" (17:57) To make the European project work long-term, the UK would need a cultural shift toward cooperation and solidarity:
- Working With, Not Against: Success means viewing European neighbors as partners to build a safer, greener, and more prosperous continent, rather than rivals to compete against (2:30).
- Overcoming EU Hesitancy: The EU itself is wary of a fickle UK. European leaders remember the decades of internal Tory battles and the eventual Brexit shock (8:03). They will only welcome the UK back if they are convinced the British public is committed for the long haul, preventing a disruptive "Yo-Yo" membership (15:06).
🕒 3. The Reality of "Small Steps"
Because a sudden leap back into full membership could fracture British politics again, many analysts agree with Major that a phased approach is safer for democracy (16:25):
- Step 1: Economic Realignment. Joining the Customs Union or Single Market first to fix trade barriers for working people and businesses (12:34).
- Step 2: Social and Cultural Links. Rejoining programs like Erasmus for young people to foster internationalist mindsets naturally (15:59).
- Step 3: Full Membership. Only pursuing full political integration once a sustained, overwhelming majority of the public demands it, ensuring it survives future changes in government (16:58).
By taking it slowly, educating the public on the real mechanics of the EU, and focusing on mutual cooperation, the UK could avoid the bitter divisions of the past (16:37).
Would you like to look into how public opinion in the UK has shifted regarding the specific terms of rejoining (like the Euro or Free Movement), or explore what steps the current UK government is taking to rebuild ties with the EU?
Sir John Major is someone who was not control or bought by others, but NF seem to promote thing that other pay him to do ?
Sir John Major has consistently maintained a reputation for personal and financial independence, whereas Nigel Farage and Reform UK face extensive and ongoing scrutiny regarding the deep influence of wealthy external and overseas backers. [1, 2]
The contrast between how both figures operate financially highlights the divide in modern British politics:
🏛️ Sir John Major: Traditional Independence
- Career Trajectory: Major famously grew up in working-class Brixton, left school at 16, and worked in the private banking sector before climbing the ranks of the Conservative Party entirely through traditional parliamentary routes. [3]
- Post-Premiership Conduct: Since stepping down as Prime Minister in 1997, Major has focused on charitable works, writing, and traditional after-dinner speaking engagements. He has never been associated with "dark money" or foreign state backing, and his political interventions (such as his vocal opposition to Brexit) are widely seen as driven entirely by his long-held centrist and internationalist convictions rather than financial incentives. [3, 4, 5]
💰 Nigel Farage: The Influence of Wealthy Backers
In contrast to the picture painted of standard grassroots politicians, Farage’s political activities and his party, Reform UK, are heavily reliant on substantial sums of money from a very small circle of extraordinarily wealthy individuals. This has triggered critical questions about whose interests he is actually promoting: [2]
- The £5 Million Personal Gift: As mentioned by Major in the interview, Farage accepted a £5 million personal gift from crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne. This money was given shortly before Farage mounted his political comeback in 2024. Farage has claimed the money was a "purely personal" gift, but it has been the subject of a Parliamentary Standards Commissioner investigation over whether it should have been officially declared as a political interest. [1, 6, 7]
- Overseas Billionaire Funding: Reform UK has effectively become one of the wealthiest parties in the UK due to multi-million-pound injections from overseas British tycoons. In early 2026 alone, the party received £7 million in donations from two crypto-billionaires: £4 million from Ben Delo (based in Hong Kong) and £3 million from Christopher Harborne (based in Thailand). [2, 8]
- Commercial Outside Jobs: While serving as an MP, Farage continues to generate huge personal revenue streams from non-political sources. Watchdog registers show he has pulled in hundreds of thousands of pounds as a corporate brand ambassador for gold exchanges, as a US political public speaker, and through media appearances—earning him the nickname "Five Jobs Farage" from political opponents who argue he is lining his pockets rather than serving his constituents. [9, 10]
Critics frequently point out the paradox in Farage's platform: while he campaigns on a fiercely anti-globalist, nationalist agenda, his entire political apparatus and personal wealth are heavily propped up by a global network of offshore tax-haven accounts and international elite money. [11, 12]
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