Britain would not be able to rejoin EU - foreign minister

Britain could not rejoin the European Union after leaving because membership requirements would be too onerous, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. He said Thursday’s referendum on EU membership offered “no way back”.

Since becoming a member of the bloc in 1973, Britain has negotiated exclusions from EU laws and membership of the single currency, as well as winning a rebate from the EU’s annual budget. Such measures would not be available to a new member, Hammond said.