Former Labour foreign secretary David Miliband has renewed his call for Britain to reverse Brexit, saying the consequences of leaving the European Union have proved to be “exactly the daily anguish” he and other critics had predicted.
In an interview with The Independent’s Editor-in-Chief Geordie Greig, Miliband argued that the UK needs a new “institutionalised” relationship with the EU. He said he believed Andy Burnham would be able to secure such an arrangement.
A renewed campaign to reverse Brexit
Miliband’s comments add weight to growing pressure within Labour for a fundamental change in Britain’s relationship with Europe. His intervention places the former foreign secretary firmly among the party’s most persistent advocates of reversing the Brexit decision.
The issue remains one of the most divisive questions in British politics. For supporters of Miliband’s position, the past several years have demonstrated that Brexit has produced continuing economic and diplomatic costs. For opponents, any commitment to reverse it risks reopening divisions that Labour will need to manage carefully.
His appeal was directed towards the future as much as the past. Miliband called for a relationship with the EU that would be stable, structured and capable of surviving changes in government.
What “institutionalised” means
The former Labour Foreign Secretary’s preferred settlement would move beyond informal cooperation and ad hoc negotiations. By describing the relationship as “institutionalised”, he pointed towards a more predictable framework in which the UK and EU could manage shared interests through established mechanisms.
That does not necessarily mean a return to every aspect of EU membership. Instead, it suggests a broader ambition: to replace uncertainty with a durable structure for trade, regulation and political dialogue.
Miliband said he was confident Burnham would be able to establish this new arrangement. The remark immediately raised expectations that the issue could become a central part of Labour’s political agenda.
Labour faces a manifesto test
Miliband’s comments came as the prime minister refused to rule out a pledge to reverse Brexit in Labour’s next election manifesto. Asked about the possibility, the prime minister said it was “a question for another day”.
That response leaves the door open without committing the party to a specific policy. It also reflects the political difficulty facing Labour: reversing Brexit may appeal to voters who believe the decision has damaged Britain, but a formal commitment could create fresh controversy before an election.
Miliband’s intervention gives that debate a senior Labour voice. It also signals that the question of Britain’s place in Europe is unlikely to disappear, even if the government is not yet prepared to define its final position.
Why it Matters
David Miliband’s remarks show that Brexit remains a live political force rather than a settled historical decision. Whether Labour ultimately commits to reversing it, reshapes the UK-EU relationship or leaves the question for a later date will shape the party’s electoral strategy and Britain’s long-term ties with Europe.
