Daniel Hannan argues that Britain is unlikely to rejoin the EU, despite polls showing strong support for doing so among Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green voters. He says that backing for rejoining could weaken during a referendum campaign, as voters reconsider the status quo and scrutiny turns to the EU’s problems.

Hannan argues that a new membership debate would absorb government time, revive divisions and distract from domestic reforms. He cites allegations of corruption involving EU politicians, economic and migration pressures, and says adopting EU rules could constrain Britain’s artificial intelligence sector; the supplied article ends partway through its discussion of areas where Britain has diverged.