MPs will debate whether Britain should rejoin the European Union on Monday at 4.30pm in Westminster Hall, just days after Andy Burnham signalled Labour might reverse Brexit and take the country back into the bloc.

Labour MP Tony Vaughan, who holds the Leave-voting seat of Folkestone & Hythe, will open the session. Europe Minister Hamish Falconer is expected to reply for Mr Burnham’s Government. The debate follows a petition signed by almost 112,000 people demanding Labour apply to rejoin. Its author claimed Brexit is not working, citing weaker trade and a smaller economy, and called for the damage to be reversed ten years after the vote.

After the petition passed 10,000 signatures the Government stated the UK will not rejoin the EU, pointing instead to a reset and new strategic partnership. Mr Burnham has taken a different line since replacing Sir Keir Starmer. Speaking to GB News after his first conference speech as Labour leader, he said all options must be examined, public opinion has shifted including in his home seat of Makerfield, and the country needs an honest conversation about future relations before returning to voters with the choices.

Only 147 signatures came from Makerfield itself. Top petition areas included Brighton Pavilion, Hove & Portslade, Brighton Kempton & Peacehaven, Hastings & Rye and Cambridge. The Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party are expected to back rejoining. Reform UK and the Conservatives remain firmly opposed.

Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch have said they will reverse any Labour reset measures. Farage warned that reopening the question hands his party a gift in the Red Wall seats that backed Leave and expect the decision to stand. The row is back in the open and MPs will now thrash it out in public.

MPs Debate EU Rejoin Bid After Burnham’s Brexit U-Turn

The question of whether Britain should rejoin the European Union has returned to the centre of Westminster politics after Prime Minister Andy Burnham reopened the debate over the long-term consequences of Brexit. MPs debated a public petition calling for the UK to apply for EU membership, while divisions emerged over how far the government should go in rebuilding relations with Europe.

The debate took place on 12 October 2026 in Westminster Hall, following a petition that attracted 111,687 signatures. Its supporters called on the government to apply to rejoin the EU as soon as possible, arguing that closer integration could strengthen economic growth, trade and opportunities for British citizens. The UK Parliament confirmed that MPs from all parties could participate and that a government minister would respond. <Cite refs={[“turn377486search1″,”turn377486search13”]}/>

The discussion has gained momentum since Burnham said Brexit had “done more harm than good” and promised to examine options for Britain’s long-term relationship with its European neighbours. Yet the government has not announced a plan to rejoin the EU, and important disagreements remain over the economic benefits, political trade-offs and public consent that any major change would require.

A Petition Brings the Rejoin Question Back to Parliament

The petition debated by MPs called for the UK to apply to rejoin the European Union, with its authors arguing that Brexit had weakened trade and left the economy smaller than it might otherwise have been.

The petition cited an Office for Budget Responsibility assessment that Brexit would reduce the UK’s long-term productivity by around 4% compared with remaining in the EU. Supporters say this forecast underlines the potential economic cost of leaving the bloc and strengthens the case for reconsidering the relationship.

During the Westminster Hall debate, Labour MP Tony Vaughan, who opened the discussion, argued that the country should take a more ambitious approach to Europe. Other MPs also urged the government to move beyond limited cooperation and consider full membership. <Cite refs={[“turn377486search0″,”turn377486search13″,”turn377486search3”]}/>

However, a parliamentary debate does not itself change government policy. The petition gives MPs an opportunity to raise public concerns, question ministers and set out competing arguments. It does not require the government to submit a membership application or commit to a referendum.

The distinction matters because the UK’s relationship with the EU remains a complex political and diplomatic issue. Rejoining would involve negotiations with member states, agreement on the terms of membership and a domestic political process capable of securing public support.

Burnham’s Changing Tone on Brexit

Burnham’s recent remarks have drawn attention because they go further than his earlier emphasis on improving practical cooperation with the EU without reopening the arguments surrounding Brexit.

During his campaign to return to Parliament in May 2026, Burnham said there was a long-term case for rejoining but that he was not proposing it at that stage. His immediate priority, he indicated, was to improve the relationship in ways that could support economic growth.

By the end of September, his language had shifted. At Labour’s conference, he said Brexit had done more harm than good and promised to set out different options for Britain’s future relationship with Europe around the time of the next UK-EU summit. Those options could include a customs union, participation in the single market or, potentially, full membership. <Cite refs={[“turn377486search0″,”turn377486search2”]}/>

The shift has prompted critics to accuse Burnham of changing his position after previously seeking to avoid another divisive Brexit debate. Supporters argue that a government should be willing to reconsider its approach when economic conditions and international circumstances change.

Burnham has sought to frame his position as pragmatic rather than as an immediate commitment to reverse Brexit. Addressing MPs on 12 October, he said the public would be the “boss” of any future decision and argued that Britain should not turn away from closer cooperation if it could improve growth, security or the management of illegal migration. <Cite refs={[“turn377486news18″,”turn377486news19”]}/>

His comments leave open several possibilities, but they do not amount to a formal decision to apply for EU membership.

What Do MPs Want the Government to Do?

The debate revealed a range of views even among politicians who support closer ties with Europe.

Some Labour MPs argued that the government should openly consider full rejoining rather than treating it as an option too politically sensitive to discuss. They believe that remaining outside the EU has limited Britain’s economic opportunities and that membership could restore influence over decisions affecting its largest nearby market.

Liberal Democrats have also called for a more ambitious relationship, including closer economic and defence cooperation. In the Westminster Hall debate, MPs raised the possibility of closer alignment through the single market, customs arrangements and shared energy systems. <Cite refs={[“turn377486search13″,”turn377486search3”]}/>

Other MPs urged caution. They argued that rejoining would require difficult negotiations and could involve obligations that voters would need to understand before any decision was made. The terms available to the UK could not simply be assumed to replicate the arrangements it enjoyed before Brexit.

The debate therefore concerns more than whether Britain should be inside or outside the EU. It also concerns which form of relationship would best serve the country’s interests, how much regulatory alignment would be required and what level of shared decision-making the public would accept.

The Economic Argument for Closer European Ties

Supporters of rejoining say the UK’s departure from the EU created additional barriers for businesses trading with European markets. Customs procedures, regulatory differences and other administrative requirements can increase costs, particularly for smaller firms that lack the resources of large multinational companies.

Closer alignment could reduce some of these obstacles. Participation in the single market could also provide businesses with more predictable access to European customers and supply chains.

The government is already pursuing more limited agreements. Burnham has said he wants progress on food and animal-product standards, links between emissions-trading systems and a youth mobility arrangement. These measures could improve cooperation without immediately reopening the question of full membership. The next UK-EU summit is scheduled for 20 November 2026 in Brussels. <Cite refs={[“turn377486news18″,”turn377486news19″,”turn377486search0”]}/>

However, the economic case requires careful examination. Different arrangements offer different benefits, and forecasts depend on assumptions about trade, investment, productivity and the costs of meeting EU rules. Rejoining would also require negotiation over the UK’s financial contribution and other membership obligations.

Critics warn that economic gains cannot be considered separately from political and regulatory trade-offs. Supporters counter that those costs should be weighed against the long-term effects of reduced trade friction and stronger cooperation with European partners.

There is no single figure that resolves the debate. The eventual impact would depend on the terms negotiated and how businesses, workers and consumers responded.

Immigration, Borders and National Sovereignty

Immigration remains one of the most contentious aspects of the debate.

Burnham has argued that stronger cooperation with European partners could help Britain address illegal Channel crossings and improve security. Supporters of closer ties say information-sharing and coordinated enforcement could be more effective when countries work together rather than independently.

But critics question whether closer EU integration would help the government meet its immigration commitments. Participation in the single market generally involves accepting the free movement of people, an issue that has been central to British political arguments since before the 2016 referendum.

Burnham has said he will respect Labour’s current manifesto commitments, which rule out joining the single market during this Parliament. He has nevertheless declined to close off discussion of longer-term options after a future general election, reiterating that any major change would require public involvement. <Cite refs={[“turn377486news18″,”turn377486search0”]}/>

This leaves a significant political question unresolved: whether voters would support closer economic integration if it involved obligations on movement, regulation or contributions to the EU budget.

For those who prioritise national sovereignty, the ability to make rules independently remains a key reason to oppose rejoining. For supporters, shared rules can be worthwhile if they improve access to markets and allow Britain to influence decisions through membership rather than adapting to them from outside.

Could Britain Rejoin Quickly?

Some pro-EU campaigners argue that the process could be faster than critics suggest. A report supported by the campaign group Best for Britain has argued that rejoining might be possible within a single parliamentary term, pointing to the UK’s existing regulatory alignment and experience as a former member. <Cite refs={[“turn377486news20”]}/>

That is a campaign-backed assessment rather than an agreed timetable. The EU accession process would require negotiations across a wide range of policy areas, and all member states would need to approve the terms of accession. Issues such as budget contributions, the euro, Schengen and the UK’s future institutional position could prove difficult.

During the Westminster Hall debate, Conservative MP Mike Wood argued that Britain would not receive a special fast-track route back into membership and highlighted the obligations that could accompany accession. Other MPs challenged whether the potential terms of membership had been established clearly enough to justify promises about how quickly the process could be completed. <Cite refs={[“turn377486search4″,”turn377486search13”]}/>

The timeline would therefore depend not only on decisions in London but also on the willingness of EU institutions and member states to negotiate and agree a settlement.

The Political Risks for Labour

For Labour, the rejoin debate presents both an opportunity and a risk. Advocates of closer European ties believe the party should be more explicit about the economic consequences of Brexit and offer voters a long-term plan.

Others fear that reopening the issue could revive divisions that have shaped British politics for a decade. Some voters who supported leaving the EU may see discussion of rejoining as a rejection of their decision, while pro-European voters may regard limited cooperation as insufficient.

The opposition has already challenged Burnham’s approach. Conservatives have criticised the prospect of moving towards EU membership, while pro-rejoin politicians argue that the government should not rule out options before their benefits and costs have been properly examined. <Cite refs={[“turn377486news19″,”turn377486news18”]}/>

The government’s challenge is to explain the practical choices without suggesting that a decision has already been made. Any proposal involving a fundamental change to the UK’s relationship with Europe would need a clear mandate, detailed terms and a credible explanation of its consequences.

Conclusion

The parliamentary debate on applying to rejoin the EU has brought a long-running national argument back into Westminster at a time when Burnham is promising a broader review of Britain’s future relationship with Europe.

The petition’s 111,687 signatures demonstrate that a substantial number of people wanted MPs to discuss the issue, but the debate does not oblige the government to apply for membership. MPs remain divided over the economic opportunities, the implications for immigration and sovereignty, and the political risks of revisiting Brexit.

Burnham has opened the door to considering a wider range of options, while insisting that the public must have a decisive role in any future choice. In the immediate term, the government is pursuing practical agreements with the EU ahead of the November summit.

Whether Britain eventually seeks full membership remains unresolved. The next stage will depend on the proposals the government presents, the response from European partners and the extent to which the public is prepared to support a fundamental change in the country’s relationship with the EU.