Andy Burnham’s Labour government is facing mounting pressure over its post‑Brexit stance, after a senior cabinet minister conceded that the current agreement with the European Union is “not working” for Britain. The admission came as the prime minister prepared to outline possible future options for UK‑EU relations, sparking fresh debate about whether Labour will formally seek to rejoin the bloc at the next election.
Government’s Assessment of the Current EU Settlement
Louise Haigh, the Cabinet Office minister, told BBC Radio 4 that the existing settlement “is not working for Britain”. When pressed on whether Labour could include a pledge to rejoin the EU in its next manifesto, she replied that the party’s red lines “will remain in place for the duration of this parliament”. She went on to link the shortcomings of the deal directly to Brexit, stating: “Brexit has harmed our economy, has harmed our security, and has harmed our ability to control our borders.”
Haigh also revealed that later this year Hamish Falconer, a member of her team, will lead negotiations with the EU on a food and an energy agreement intended to lower consumer prices. She cautioned, however, that such measures alone would not be enough to substantially improve the UK’s position.
Burnham’s Conference Speech and Rejoining Signals
In his major conference address in Liverpool on Tuesday 29 September 2026, the prime minister echoed Haigh’s concerns, declaring that “Brexit has done more harm than good”. He told delegates that the UK had “lost some of the control” over both the economy and immigration as a result of leaving the EU, and said he would set out “options” on UK‑EU relations later this year, urging the party to decide on its “long‑term relationship” with the bloc.
The speech followed a report by The Independent that indicated Burnham was expected to move Labour closer to the idea of rejoining. During the event he avoided ruling out a manifesto commitment to rejoin, noting that a year earlier, while serving as mayor of Manchester, he had already expressed the view that the UK should return to European membership.
Political Reactions and Internal Party Dynamics
Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, seized on the remarks, accusing Burnham of trying to “sneak us back into Brussels via the back door”. Tice argued that the real damage came not from Brexit itself but from a Labour administration that “can’t deliver growth, can’t control migration and now wants to outsource the job to Brussels”. He warned that Reform UK would “never let this betrayal go unchallenged”.
Meanwhile, Naomi Smith, chief executive of the pro‑Europe group Best for Britain, welcomed the shift. She cited internal polling that showed half‑measures on Europe would fail to secure a Labour victory or prevent a potential Nigel Farage premiership. Smith urged the government to act immediately, saying the public, progressive voices and a clear economic case all pointed toward applying for EU membership without delay.
Sources close to the cabinet told The Independent that ministers are already building the case to include a rejoin pledge in Labour’s next election manifesto. They stressed that the debate now centres on how the commitment is phrased, not whether it will appear.
Why it Matters
The candid acknowledgement from a senior minister that the current EU arrangement is failing, coupled with the prime minister’s open criticism of Brexit, signals a potential turning point in Britain’s post‑referendum trajectory. If Labour translates this rhetoric into a concrete manifesto promise to rejoin the EU, it could reshape the party’s electoral appeal, alter the dynamics of UK‑EU negotiations, and influence broader debates over sovereignty, trade and immigration. The coming months will reveal whether this shift remains a tactical maneuver or becomes a definitive strategic pivot for the country’s future relationship with Europe.
