Andy Burnham has said Britain could ultimately rejoin the European Union as his government prepares to reconsider the country’s long-term relationship with Europe.
The Prime Minister said full EU membership would be one of several options examined ahead of a UK-EU summit in November.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Burnham laid out four possible directions for Britain.
He said the UK could remain under the current post-Brexit arrangements, join a customs union, return to the single market or “go all the way” and consider full membership of the European Union.
Burnham said:
“We could stay as we are. That’s definitely an option, if people think this is the right place to stay. We could look at what 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.”
He said ministers would look at “what is doable” and examine the pros and cons of each option before deciding what should happen next.
It is the clearest indication yet that Burnham is prepared to reconsider some of the Brexit red lines Labour fought the 2024 general election on.
Burnham says Brexit has done ‘more harm than good’
The comments came a day after Burnham used his first Labour conference speech as Prime Minister to give a blunt assessment of Brexit.
“I am very clear, and I will say this bluntly: Brexit has caused more harm than good,” he said.
“So the question is, what do we do about that?”
Burnham told delegates in Liverpool that Britain could no longer avoid making a long-term decision about its relationship with its largest trading partner.
He said:
“We will not give Britain the clear path we need into the rest of the century until we decide on a long-term relationship with what is still our largest market.”
He promised to set out the choices facing the country around the time of the UK-EU summit in November.
The language marks a clear break with the approach Labour took into the 2024 election.
That manifesto ruled out returning to the EU single market, joining a customs union or restoring freedom of movement.
Burnham has not announced that any of those policies will now be adopted.
Instead, he is saying they will be considered.
Four options are now on the table
The first option is essentially to leave the current relationship alone.
Britain would remain outside the EU, customs union and single market while continuing to negotiate individual agreements with Brussels.
The second would be joining a customs union.
Former Conservative chancellor George Osborne has recently argued for Britain to take that route, saying Brexit had been “a mess” and that closer trading arrangements would ease some of the economic disruption caused by leaving the bloc.
A customs union would reduce some barriers to trade in goods because Britain and the EU would apply the same tariffs to imports from outside countries.
It would not, by itself, return Britain to the single market.
The third option is the route advocated by the Liberal Democrats: rejoining the single market.
That would involve much closer regulatory alignment with the EU and would require negotiations over the conditions attached.
Then there is Burnham’s fourth option.
“Go all the way.”
In practice, that means reopening the question of full British membership of the European Union.
Britain would not simply get its old membership back
Even if a future government decided it wanted to rejoin, it would not be as simple as reversing the Brexit process.
Britain would have to apply for membership and negotiate terms with the EU and its existing member states.
Questions around freedom of movement, budget contributions, regulatory rules and Britain’s wider relationship with European institutions would all need to be addressed.
Burnham has not said what conditions he would be prepared to accept.
He has also not announced a second referendum.
The government is still at the stage of examining possible models rather than presenting a settled plan.
That makes the November summit particularly important.
The UK and EU are already discussing closer cooperation in several areas, including electricity markets, food trade and youth mobility.
Britain is also due to take part in the Erasmus+ student exchange programme again from 2027.
Burnham says Britain has been stuck in a ‘rut’
Burnham has argued that Britain has spent too long without resolving its relationship with Europe.
He told BBC Breakfast that the country had been “in a rut” and said the current position was not working well enough.
His criticism is not limited to trade.
During his conference speech, Burnham argued that Brexit had weakened Britain’s ability to cooperate with neighbouring countries on immigration as well as damaging economic ties.
He has previously said he would like to see Britain rejoin the European Union within his lifetime.
Until now, though, his government had been more cautious about what that could mean in practice.
His latest comments put full membership directly into the list of options ministers will examine.
Conservatives accuse Burnham of reopening Brexit
The prospect has already drawn criticism from Conservatives.
Former cabinet minister Michael Gove, who campaigned for Leave in 2016, argued that reopening the issue would frustrate voters and return powers over British policy to Brussels.
The Conservatives accused Burnham of reopening the divisions of the Brexit years.
Burnham’s government will also have to deal with voters who backed Leave and have no interest in revisiting the referendum result.
That is one reason Labour has spent much of the past decade being careful about reopening the membership question.
But public opinion on Brexit has changed since 2016.
A YouGov poll reported by Reuters in June found 55 per cent of voters supported rejoining the EU, although support for membership can vary depending on the terms attached and how questions are asked.
Burnham now appears willing to have that argument.
For the moment, he is not promising to take Britain back into the EU.
He is saying it should no longer be ruled out.
And after years in which Labour insisted the Brexit settlement would not be reopened, that is a substantial change.
Andy Burnham Says Britain Could ‘Go All the Way’ and Rejoin the European Union
Britain’s relationship with the European Union has returned to the centre of political debate after Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggested that the country could eventually go all the way and rejoin the European Union. His comments represent a significant development in the ongoing discussion about the consequences of Brexit and Britain’s future position in Europe. Almost a decade after the 2016 referendum, the possibility of returning to the EU is once again attracting attention from politicians, business leaders and members of the public. While supporters believe that rejoining could strengthen the British economy and restore the country’s international influence, critics argue that reversing Brexit would undermine the democratic decision made by millions of voters. Burnham’s remarks therefore raise fundamental questions about national sovereignty, economic recovery and the future direction of British politics.
Speaking about Britain’s future relationship with Europe, Burnham indicated that closer cooperation should not necessarily be the final destination. He suggested that the country should remain open to the possibility of full EU membership if circumstances and public opinion eventually support such a decision. Although he did not announce an immediate plan to begin formal membership negotiations, his comments demonstrate a willingness to discuss an option that many British politicians previously avoided.
To understand the significance of this statement, it is necessary to remember the historic referendum held on 23 June 2016. British voters were asked whether the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union or leave. The Leave campaign won with approximately 51.9 per cent of the vote, compared with 48.1 per cent for Remain. Supporters of Brexit argued that Britain needed to regain control over its laws, borders and financial contributions to European institutions. They also promised that leaving the EU would allow the country to establish independent trade agreements and develop a more flexible economic policy.
However, the process of leaving the European Union proved considerably more complicated than many voters had expected. Negotiations continued for several years, creating political uncertainty and divisions within Parliament. Britain officially left the EU on 31 January 2020, followed by the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020. Since then, businesses have had to adapt to new trading arrangements, customs procedures and regulatory requirements.
Burnham believes that the economic consequences of Brexit deserve serious reconsideration. British companies exporting goods to European markets have faced additional paperwork and administrative costs. Smaller businesses, in particular, have experienced difficulties dealing with customs declarations, product regulations and changes to supply chains. Critics of Brexit argue that these barriers have weakened trade relationships and reduced opportunities for economic growth.
The European Union remains one of Britain’s most important trading partners. A closer relationship could therefore provide considerable economic advantages. Rejoining the single market and customs union, for example, could reduce some barriers to trade and make it easier for British companies to sell products across Europe. It could also encourage investment by providing businesses with greater regulatory certainty.
Nevertheless, the question of EU membership involves much more than economic considerations. Supporters of Brexit continue to argue that national sovereignty was one of the most important reasons for leaving. They believe that British voters wanted their elected representatives to have greater control over domestic legislation, immigration and economic policy. From this perspective, rejoining the EU could involve transferring certain decision-making powers back to European institutions.
Nigel Farage and Reform UK have strongly opposed the idea of reversing Brexit. Farage has repeatedly argued that leaving the EU was a democratic decision that politicians must respect. He believes that Britain should focus on developing trade relationships with countries around the world rather than returning to a political organisation from which it deliberately withdrew. Reform UK also argues that rejoining could create new financial obligations and reopen difficult debates about immigration and national sovereignty.
The Conservative Party has similarly criticised proposals for full EU membership. Conservative politicians maintain that Britain should preserve the independence gained through Brexit while improving practical cooperation with European countries. They argue that trade agreements, security partnerships and scientific cooperation can be strengthened without requiring the country to become an EU member again.
Labour, meanwhile, has generally advocated a closer relationship with Brussels without immediately promising to reverse Brexit. Burnham’s comments could therefore indicate a more ambitious long-term direction for the government. His argument appears to be that Britain’s future relationship with Europe should be determined by economic realities and public opinion rather than political taboos established after the referendum.
Another important issue concerns immigration. Freedom of movement was one of the most controversial aspects of EU membership during the Brexit campaign. Supporters of leaving believed that Britain needed greater control over immigration and the ability to establish its own system. Those who favour rejoining must therefore explain how the country would approach freedom of movement and whether the British public would accept the arrangements associated with membership.
The European Union would also need to consider Britain’s application carefully. Rejoining would not necessarily mean restoring all the special arrangements and opt-outs that Britain previously enjoyed. The accession process would require negotiations with EU institutions and agreement from member states. Questions concerning budget contributions, economic rules, the euro and participation in European policies would all need to be addressed.
Furthermore, the political environment within Europe has changed since Britain left. The EU has faced challenges involving energy security, defence cooperation, economic competitiveness and geopolitical tensions. Britain could potentially contribute significantly to European security because of its military capabilities, intelligence networks and international diplomatic relationships. A closer partnership could therefore benefit both sides.
Burnham’s comments also come amid growing concerns about Russia’s influence in European politics and the security of democratic institutions. Cooperation between Britain and EU countries could strengthen intelligence sharing, cybersecurity and efforts to counter foreign interference. In an increasingly uncertain international environment, maintaining strong relationships with neighbouring European countries is strategically important.
Public opinion will ultimately play a decisive role in determining whether Britain could return to the EU. Although some voters who supported Brexit have become disappointed with its economic consequences, others continue to believe that leaving was the correct decision. The country remains politically divided, and any government considering full membership would need to demonstrate clear public support.
In my opinion, Britain should approach this debate with realism rather than emotion. Brexit was a democratic decision, but democratic decisions do not prevent future generations from reconsidering national policies. If evidence demonstrates that closer European integration would improve economic growth, employment opportunities and national security, politicians should be prepared to discuss those advantages openly. Equally, they must explain the potential costs and compromises associated with membership.
The government should initially focus on improving practical cooperation with the EU. Reducing unnecessary trade barriers, strengthening scientific partnerships, improving security cooperation and creating opportunities for young people to study and work abroad could produce meaningful benefits. These measures would allow Britain to rebuild trust with European partners while giving voters time to consider the possibility of a more fundamental change.
In conclusion, Andy Burnham’s suggestion that Britain could eventually go all the way and rejoin the European Union has reopened one of the country’s most important political debates. Supporters believe that returning to the EU could improve economic opportunities, strengthen international influence and restore closer relationships with European neighbours. Opponents argue that such a move would undermine national sovereignty and disregard the outcome of the 2016 referendum. The challenges involved in rejoining would be substantial, requiring complex negotiations and a clear democratic mandate. Nevertheless, Britain’s future relationship with Europe should remain open to informed discussion. Ultimately, the most important consideration should be what arrangement best protects the country’s prosperity, security and long-term interests.