UK PM Burnham says Britain should consider rejoining European Union

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggested on Wednesday that the UK should revisit the possibility of rejoining the European Union as part of a broader review of the country's relationship with the bloc. Burnham argued that the current Brexit arrangements had caused more harm than benefit. During an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he expressed his desire to explore various options, such as maintaining the existing setup, joining a customs union, pursuing a single-market relationship, or even rejoining the EU itself.

Burnham noted that he had previously backed rejoining the EU within his lifetime, but his stance has evolved. This shift contrasts with Labour's 2024 election manifesto, which advocated for making Brexit work and expressly rejected rejoining the EU customs union or single market. At the Labour Party conference on Tuesday, Burnham blamed Brexit for eroding control over immigration and the economy, stating that the present relationship with the EU was not satisfactory.

He intended to utilize a postponed EU summit later this year to present different options for the future relationship and seek consensus on a single approach. As a candidate in the Makerfield by-election, Burnham had previously pledged not to revisit the Brexit debate and did not propose considering rejoining the EU. However, he recently indicated that he might campaign for a mandate to rejoin during the next general election.

These remarks could reignite debates within Labour regarding its stance on Brexit, following former Prime Minister Keir Starmer's more limited re-engagement with Brussels, which encompassed closer alignment on food standards, a youth mobility deal, and reconnecting British industry with the EU's carbon trading system. The EU summit, postponed due to Starmer’s departure, is likely to serve as a platform for Burnham to outline his long-term proposals for the relationship.

He has also expressed his intention to publish a 10-year plan to revamp the British economy. Conservative deputy leader Alex Burghart criticized Burnham's comments, arguing that the Conservative Party could not attribute current economic issues to the Brexit vote, which occurred over a decade ago. The Conservatives accused Labour of reopening old divisions over Britain's departure from the EU.