London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, has called for a reevaluation of Britain's relationship with the European Union and a more honest debate about immigration, as he blames Brexit for contributing to the country's current cost-of-living crisis. Khan, of the opposition Labour party, emphasized the urgent need for a closer relationship with the EU, citing a study commissioned by City Hall which found that Britain's economy had lost out on £140 billion ($178 billion) due to Brexit.

London Mayor "to call for debate on the case for rejoining the customs union and single market...

...as he unveils new research suggesting the UK economy is £140bn smaller than it would have been if Britain had remained inside the EU"

👏👏👏https://t.co/mfBGWtorJF

— Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) January 11, 2024

The study also estimated that Britain's economy would have missed out on more than £300 billion by 2035 if no action is taken, with London's economy being £30 billion smaller than projected. This has resulted in nearly 300,000 fewer jobs and the average Londoner being nearly £3,400 worse off last year due to Brexit. Khan also addressed immigration policy, stating that while he is not in favor of open borders or uncontrolled immigration, severe worker shortages mean a rational approach is necessary. However, rival mayoral candidate Howard Cox dismissed the economic estimates, calling them "fantasy economics."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesman also argued in favor of Brexit, stating that the British economy had grown faster than Italy's and Germany's since 2016. As the issue of Brexit and immigration policy continues to be politically sensitive, it is likely to be a major focus of the upcoming general election. Despite potential backlash, Khan emphasized the need for an approach guided by facts, rather than fearmongering, citing the economic, social, and cultural advantages of a balanced immigration policy.