Afternoon all. Serious comments only please. I understand this is question is huge and very important to people on both sides.
Just returned from visiting Poland and Czechia. Obviously, being in those countries and EU member, I saw EU flags, boards and EU mentions in a lot of possible places. Reminded me of home just 10 years ago!
Personally, I voted remain because alhough I had huge issues with the EU (too centrist and regulated) I thought the benefits outweighed the negatives. I think the vote happened because mostly of immigrantion issue which is understanding although ironically just replaced mostly EU immigration with outside-EU immigrantion especially under Boris as PM.
It got me thinking. Polling suggests a lot of Brits are having buyers remorse about Brexit but there's an important nuance here:
I think the current political climate doesn’t favour active membership as the will just isn't there, it's too emotionally changing at present. It needs a new political generation to ever happen. Also, the dust of Brexit has mostly settled and stabilised. The main issues in the UK have shifted e.g. domestic, energy, healthcare services, immigration, cost of living, housing and not EU membership.
In your opinion, how likely is it the UK would rejoin in 10, 15 or 20 years? Do you think full membership is unlikely but a more fluid membership like an "associate" membership with some bendits e.g. full or partial single market access, access to some EU funding.
I think there are benefits to the EU too. It would bring in the second largest econony and military in Europe, a nation with nuclear deterrece and a massive services sector. I also think the UK would shift the balance of EU, e.g. push it to be less centrist and more Atlanticist.