Rule Maker to Rule Taker – what Brexit really changed

Jon Danzig | 23 May 2025

Richard Tice, Deputy Leader of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, says Labour’s new Brexit reset means the UK is:

“basically going back to being a rule taker from the EU.”

But Britain is already a rule taker – and has been since Brexit took effect in January 2020. When we were 𝗶𝗻 the EU, we weren’t rule takers – we were rule 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀.

We had a seat at the table.
We helped write the rules.
We had a say, a vote, and a veto on EU policies that shaped the largest single market in the world – a market we were part of, that we helped to lead.

Now, we’re 𝗼𝘂𝘁. And if we want to sell into that market – as we obviously do, since the EU is still our largest trading partner by far – we must follow EU rules.

But now we follow them with 𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 at all. That’s what it means to be a rule taker.

British exporters must comply with EU regulations to sell goods into the Single Market.
Farmers must meet EU standards if they want to export food.
Manufacturers must follow EU safety and labelling requirements.
Our musicians, hauliers, students, scientists ALL face barriers they didn’t face before.

And it’s not because the EU changed the rules. It’s because WE left.

And Labour’s proposed tweaks – a veterinary agreement, closer mobility links, a proposed Youth Mobility Scheme, professional recognition, cooperation on security and energy – won’t change that core reality.

We are still out. We are still a rule taker. And we are still poorer, weaker, and more isolated than when we were rule makers inside the room.

Brexit has robbed Britain not just of frictionless trade, free movement, and investment, but also of sovereignty – the very thing it promised to restore.

The truth is this: we’ve lost our democratic voice in decisions that still affect us.

So, Mr Tice, if you want Britain to stop being a rule taker, there’s only one honest answer.

We must rejoin the EU.