Burnham leaves door open to ‘rejoin EU’ pledge
The U.K. PM’s comments are a major shift in rhetoric from the days of predecessor Keir Starmer.
Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham has left the door open to pledging to rejoin the European Union if Labour wins the next general election. Speaking ahead of a meeting with the president of the European Commission, Burnham suggested the manifesto commitment, which some in his party back, could be made in the party's next manifesto.
The Labour leader emphasized that at the moment his focus is on a U.K.-EU summit later this year, which he hopes will take place. Burnham stated that the party's immediate priority is to build on the good work done by Keir Starmer in rebuilding bridges with the EU. He acknowledged that the last decade had been characterized by distorted facts, and that the focus should now be on reaching practical agreements to boost the British economy.
When asked about rejoining the bloc wholesale, Burnham said: "The other issues you discuss — they are for another day." The U.K.-EU summit, originally scheduled for July, was postponed after the change of U.K. premiership, but Brussels and London have yet to agree on a new date. Burnham expressed concerns about protectionist Made in Europe measures and the issue of tuition fees for EU students studying in Britain.
He said he would discuss these matters constructively with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday.
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