UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated that the government may explore options to reset the UK’s relationship with the European Union, including potential steps toward rejoining the bloc, according to recent interviews and statements.
Burnham’s remarks follow a Labour Party conference speech in which he stated that Brexit had done ‘more harm than good’ and called for a review of future UK-EU relations. He outlined several possible approaches, including maintaining the current arrangement, adopting a customs union, aligning with the single market, or pursuing full EU membership. The prime minister emphasized that ‘where we are isn’t good enough’ and that the UK must ‘consider the options’ for its future relationship with Brussels.
A general election is not expected before 2029, though Burnham has not ruled out triggering an early vote. He clarified that a referendum on rejoining the EU would ‘not be the right thing to do right now’, but did not dismiss the possibility of including such a proposal in a future election manifesto. Burnham, who succeeded Keir Starmer without a public vote, has previously pledged not to ‘re-run’ Brexit debates.
Cabinet divisions emerge over EU stance
Burnham’s proposal has exposed divisions within his cabinet, with senior ministers taking opposing views on the merits of reversing Brexit. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood are reported to hold differing positions on whether the UK should pursue closer ties with the EU, including potential re-entry. The split reflects broader challenges in reconciling Labour’s electoral strategy with its evolving stance on Brexit, particularly in constituencies that voted to leave the EU in 2016.
Political opponents seize on the debate
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has framed Burnham’s remarks as a ‘Brexit betrayal’ and accused the prime minister of ‘selling out’ Leave voters. Farage thanked Burnham for ‘gift[ing]’ him what he described as the ‘biggest boost in [his] career’, vowing to campaign aggressively against any move to rejoin the EU. He declared that Burnham’s stance had ‘put [him] back into the debate’ and signaled that Reform UK would make the issue a central focus of its campaigning, regardless of the timing of the next election.
Protests and public sentiment
The announcement has also drawn reactions from pro-EU demonstrators, who gathered outside Parliament on the fourth anniversary of the UK’s formal departure from the EU. Protesters called for closer ties with Brussels, while critics of Burnham’s remarks argue that revisiting Brexit risks ‘reopening old divisions’ and undermining the democratic outcome of the 2016 referendum.
Timeline and next steps
Burnham has stated that the government will ‘look at the options’ for resetting UK-EU relations, with no immediate decisions expected. The prime minister has ruled out a snap election but left open the possibility of including EU-related proposals in future manifestos. Meanwhile, political opponents, including Farage, have vowed to mobilize against any perceived backsliding on Brexit, setting the stage for a contentious debate ahead of the next general election.