Britain weighs deeper EU ties under Burnham, including possible rejoining
A decade after the Brexit vote continues to shape Britain's economic and diplomatic position, Prime Minister Andy Burnham says the country should review its long-term options with the European Union. He says the choices range from keeping the current settlement to pursuing a customs union, single market access or ultimately rejoining the bloc.
Highlights
- Burnham plans to present a range of UK-EU relationship options, including customs union and single market reentry, at the November summit.
- Burnham replaces Keir Starmer in July and signals intent to reset ties with the EU, prioritizing political feasibility and practical impact.
- Burnham acknowledges Brexit's economic harm at the Labour conference and urges timely decisions to avoid another decade of uncertainty for Britain.
Policy options ahead of November UK-EU summit
As reported by Reuters, Burnham says Britain should examine different models for its future relationship with Europe and judge them on what is politically achievable, as he intensifies efforts to reset ties with the EU.Speaking to the BBC after addressing Labour's annual conference, Burnham says remaining with the current arrangement is one option, but he also points to alternatives backed by other political figures. Those include a customs union, an idea associated with former Conservative finance minister George Osborne, and a return to the single market, which the Liberal Democrats support.
Burnham says each option should be measured by its practical advantages and disadvantages. Earlier on Tuesday, he says he will use a November UK-EU summit to set out options for Britain's longer-term relationship with the bloc.
Political and economic implications for Britain
Britain voted to leave the European Union in 2016, ending more than four decades of membership and setting off years of political disruption. Successive governments have since grappled with the economic and diplomatic effects of that decision.Burnham, who replaces Keir Starmer in July, has previously said he wants Britain to rejoin the EU in his lifetime and argues the country cannot afford another decade of uncertainty over the issue. At the Labour conference, he says Brexit has caused more harm than good and frames the next step as deciding how Britain should respond.
In our earlier article on Andy Burnham’s reform agenda, we outlined how his first Labour Party conference speech as prime minister signaled a broad policy reset spanning a rethink of post-Brexit EU ties, pensions changes and electoral reform. We also noted that while some steps could start within the current parliament, the most far-reaching elements were presented as contingent on securing a fresh mandate at the next general election.
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