Labour leader Andy Burnham has indicated that rejoining the European Union could be among the options examined by the government to redefine the UK’s long-term relationship with Europe. The prime minister told the BBC that the current Brexit settlement had caused “more harm than good” and expressed a desire to explore “what is doable” to repair relations with the bloc.
The comments follow Burnham’s pledge during his Labour Party conference speech on Tuesday to explore closer ties with the EU at a postponed summit later this year. The potential shift could create a significant divide at the next general election, with the Conservatives accusing him of attempting to “reopen old wounds by restarting the battles of the Brexit years.”
Shift from Party Manifesto
Burnham’s latest remarks represent the clearest indication yet of a potential break from Labour’s 2024 election manifesto, which pledged to “make Brexit work” while explicitly ruling out rejoining either the EU’s customs union or single market. Previously, as a candidate in the Makerfield by-election that returned him to Parliament, he had promised not to “re-run” Brexit arguments and stated he was “not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU.”
The development follows the departure of predecessor Sir Keir Starmer from office, which delayed a summer summit with the EU until later this year. Burnham has indicated his intention to use this rescheduled meeting to publish a comprehensive 10-year plan to transform the UK economy, alongside exploring various options for the country’s European relationship.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Burnham emphasised his intention not to leave the EU relationship question unresolved. “I want to be clear on where we want Britain to go in the next decade,” he stated, adding that he wanted to “look at the options.”
When asked directly whether he wanted the UK to rejoin the EU, Burnham responded that he wanted to “look at the options,” while acknowledging he had previously advocated for such a move within his lifetime, though conceding “it is not necessarily the case that that is now.”
Multiple Pathways Under Consideration
“We could stay as we are. That’s definitely an option, if people think this is the right place to stay,” he told the programme. “We could look at what [former Chancellor] George Osborne has said about a customs union, we could look at what the Liberal Democrats said at their conference about the single market, or we could go all the way.”
The prime minister emphasised that multiple options require careful consideration. “So there are clearly options that need to be considered, and we have to look at what is doable and what would be the pros and cons of each,” he added.
In his conference speech, Burnham criticised Brexit for eroding UK control over both immigration and the economy, asserting that the current relationship with Europe was “not good enough.” He told activists that the rescheduled summit would be used to “lay out different options” for the UK’s long-term European relationship, promising to “find consensus” on a path forward, though without detailing the specific mechanisms for measuring public opinion.
Political Backlash and Electoral Implications
In response to Burnham’s conference speech, Conservative deputy leader Alex Burghart dismissed the proposals, arguing: “Labour cannot pin the blame for their disastrous economic decisions on a vote that happened over a decade ago.” He further accused the opposition of dragging the UK “into the European Union via the back door with their EU reset.”
The political fallout extends beyond Westminster. Recent commentary has highlighted various proposals associated with potential re-engagement, including tax cut promises tied to EU single market access and Burnham’s pledge to end the existing pension triple lock in 2030 to help fund social care. These developments suggest a broader re-evaluation of post-Brexit economic policy may be underway within Labour circles.
Regardless of the final direction taken, Burnham’s comments signal a willingness to revisit fundamental questions about the UK’s place in Europe, potentially reshaping the political landscape ahead of the next general election.
Why it Matters
Burnham’s open discussion of EU rejoining marks a pivotal moment in British politics, potentially redefining the post-Brexit consensus and setting the stage for profound electoral division. The prime minister’s willingness to explore reintegration signals recognition that the current arrangement may have failed to deliver on key Brexit promises, while simultaneously risking a relitivation of the deeply polarising debates that characterised the 2016 referendum. This shift could fundamentally alter the political calculus for voters, forcing a reckoning with whether the sacrifices of Brexit were justified by the outcomes achieved.
