UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reopened the debate over Britain’s long-term relationship with the European Union, saying rejoining the bloc could be considered alongside other options.
Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, September 30, Burnham said the current Brexit arrangement had caused “more harm than good” and that the government needed to examine “what is doable” to improve relations with Europe.
His comments came a day after he told the Labour Party conference that he wanted to explore closer ties with the EU and present different options at a UK-EU summit later this year.
The remarks mark a significant shift from Labour’s 2024 election position, which pledged to “make Brexit work” while ruling out rejoining the EU customs union and single market.
Asked whether he wanted Britain to rejoin the EU, Burnham said he wanted to “look at the options”.
He said the government could maintain the current arrangement, pursue a customs union, seek membership of the single market or consider full EU membership.
“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.”
“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.
Burnham said he wanted to settle on a clear direction for Britain’s relationship with Europe over the next decade, potentially making the issue an important part of the next general election campaign.
The Conservatives have accused him of reopening the divisions surrounding Brexit, while the Liberal Democrats have called for closer economic ties with the EU.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez have both responded positively to the possibility of Britain moving closer to the bloc.
The Conservatives, however, have criticised Burnham’s position, arguing that Labour should not blame Brexit for the country’s economic challenges.
The renewed debate could put Europe back at the centre of UK politics, with Burnham expected to set out the possible paths for Britain’s relationship with the EU ahead of the planned summit later this year.
