Sunak told to defy Brexit voters and take UK back into single market

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will have to confront a number of challenges as he takes the keys to Number 10. The UK economy is headed for recession, the cost of living crisis continues to impact millions and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is creating more chaos abroad. Another potential stumbling block for Mr Sunak is Brexit. Nearly three years after the UK left the bloc, Brussels and London are still at odds over how to solve the Northern Ireland protocol dispute and some are even suggesting Britain should rejoin the EU.The Government wants to ditch the protocol which keeps Northern Ireland in the single market, but the EU is angry at the UK for threatening to break the initial agreement.Remainers are also arguing that the UK should soften its Brexit arrangement, saying that the UK economy has been damaged by the country’s decision to leave the bloc.In fact, Tory donor and billionaire, Guy Hands, told the i this week that Mr Sunak should take the UK back into the EU’s single market and admit that Brexit has been a “complete disaster”.He said: ‘The first thing to do would be to admit that the Brexit negotiations were a complete disaster. Rishi Sunak: Sunak has been challenged by a Tory donor over Brexit (Image: Getty) Rishi Sunak: Hands threatened to stop donating to the Tory party (Image: Getty)He continued: ‘Brexit is done. That will not change. But for a politician with the guts to do so there is an opportunity to meet leaders from around the EU and change the kind of Brexit we have.’Rather than having continued rhetoric against our neighbours, Rishi needs to focus on how we can rebuild bridges with our neighbours.”Without a good relationship with Europe, we don’t have much of an economy and today, even travelling to our neighbours is difficult.’Brexit, as negotiated, is a total and complete disaster. The red tape is far worse than ever before. We have even more restrictive rules and the idea we will cut trade deals in the style of a ‘European Singapore’ is nonsense.’DON’T MISSShould a snap election be called? – YOU VOTED [POLL]How Michael Gove fought off his enemies and bounced back [INSIGHT]Sunak ‘to do what’s right’ retirees told ahead of triple lock verdict [NEWS] Rishi Sunak: Remainers say Brexit has been bad for the UK economy (Image: Getty) Rishi Sunak: The protocol has divided opinion in the UK (Image: Getty)Mr Hands will likely be disappointed by Mr Sunak’s policy on Europe. The new Prime Minister has vowed to scrap all unwanted EU laws before the next election commences in 2024.On the Northern Ireland protocol, Mr Sunak has largely agreed with his predecessors that it should be scrapped for a new arrangement. In May, he told Bloomberg that the protocol was damaging “the stability of the situation” in Northern Ireland.This means Mr Sunak will continue on the path that left the EU livid with the UK. Leaders in Brussels want the UK to accept the protocol and keep it in place.However, previous reports also suggest that Mr Sunak could be reluctant to anger the EU too much. The Telegraph reported in 2021 that he urged then Prime Minister Boris Johnson not to “blow up” negotiations with the EU.During the Tory leadership race this summer, Mr Sunak addressed the issue of the protocol at a hustings in Belfast and said he wanted to renegotiate the arrangement with the EU.