John Major on Brexit
TL;DR
Sir John Major views Brexit as a colossal mistake that has made the UK poorer, weaker, and damaged its international reputation.
Key Points
He described Brexit as the "worst foreign policy decision in my lifetime" in 2019, warning it would make the UK poorer and weaker.
In a February 2023 appearance, he stated that Brexit was a "colossal mistake" and criticised the handling of the subsequent protocol.
Major supported the unsuccessful Britain Stronger in Europe campaign in 2016 and has called for a second referendum on the matter.
Summary
Sir John Major has been a consistent and vocal critic of the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union. He described the referendum result as an act of collective folly that left the country poorer, weaker, and divorced from its richest free trade market. Major argued that the promised gains from Brexit have proven illusory while the predicted damage, such as significant trade losses, has become evident, costing the nation substantial output and tax revenue. He also feared the decision could endanger the peace settlement in Northern Ireland.
While acknowledging that rejoining the EU is not politically realistic in the immediate future, the former Prime Minister advocates for pragmatic steps to rebuild the relationship. He has specifically proposed that the UK should, at a minimum, look to negotiate re-entry into the Customs Union, and subsequently the Single Market, as a necessary beginning. He suggests that short-term party political calculation is currently prioritising these national interests, hindering a better future relationship with the bloc.
Key Quotes
In an act of collective folly, the UK voted to leave the EU.
Brexit was a 'colossal mistake'
Frequently Asked Questions
John Major's position is strongly negative; he considers Brexit a "colossal mistake" that has diminished the UK economically and politically. According to his post-2016 commentary, he believes it has made the country poorer and weaker.
No, his stance appears consistent since the referendum. He supported Remain in 2016 and has since vocally criticised the execution and outcome of leaving the EU.
In speeches after the UK left the EU, John Major did not call for immediate rejoining but urged practical steps like entering the Customs Union. He stated that the national interest demands a better relationship with the EU bloc.
Sources7
John Major: We shouldn’t move on from Brexit, we need to recover what we lost
Anto Guera on X: "John Major has called Boris Johnson’s Brexit protocol a ‘mess’..."
Sir John Major's Speech at Maurice Fraser Lecture – 18 November 2025
The reaction to John Major's speech suggests standards are the next Brexit battlefield
Sir John Major: 'We Must Rebuild What We've Broken'
Brexit was a 'colossal mistake', former PM Sir John Major tells committee
John Major - Wikipedia
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.