Prime Minister, the time for Bravery is Now or Never.

Francesco Nicoli is professor of Political Economy at the Politechnical University of Turin and fellow at the Brussels Think-Tank Bruegel.

Brexit might have been the coronation of the Eurosceptic dreams of Nigel Farage, but it is fair to say that it also was the genesis moment for the West’s decline in display today. It fundamentally weakened the rules-based international order and brought back successive waves of nationalism that fractured western unity. For the best part of a decade, the UK has been trying to find its place in this new world, caught between its global aspirations, its European geography, and the tightening grip of a struggling economy.

Trump’s protectionism and Putin’s imperialism mean that such road is coming to and end. The path is closed, and there is no third way. Reality will soon be knocking at the doors of 10 Dawning Street, and Keir Starmer must now show unique courage and leadership to go straight to source of British illness. At the same time, Trump’s protectionism and Putin’s imperialism have created an opening: a window of opportunity to reverse Brexit. Not just with some agreements on the margin, but with a bold move to rejoin the European Union. The British public opinion is now solidly in favour of rejoining; and faced with the need of boosting the credibility and confidence in the European project, President Von der Leyen, President Macron and Chancellor Merz will welcome back the UK with open arms.

In fact, the political momentum is growing, and this can be done fast by coordinating with the French and German Government and the Commission to quickly agree that the UK should be allowed to rejoin at the same conditions prior to exit. Once this is agreed, Starmer should “pull a Carney” and call for a referendum in short order, within a month or two, not last to prevent malicious external actors – both in Moscow and Washington- from preparing a credible counter strategy.

There are a couple of missing pieces in this puzzle.

First off, a trigger. An international event that would act as an eye-opener for the British public, mobilizing pro-European forces while neutering hard-line Eurosceptics. This is exactly what happened yesterday night: Trump singlehandedly destroyed the global trade order with new massive tariffs that will hit the UK along with Canada, the EU, and the rest of the world. The UK has now a unique opportunity for changing the narrative hand show global leadership. A chance to steal the stage to American anti-western fundamentalists and inject hope into the global rule-based order.

The second missing piece? Keir Starmer’s vision and the courage to attempt a bold move to break the losing impasse.

 Prime Minister, the time for bravery is now or never.