Story summary
Andy Burnham, the new Labour Party leader and Prime Minister of Britain, has indicated that rejoining the European Union (EU) could be an option for the UK. During his first Labour conference speech as PM on Tuesday, Burnham stated that Brexit had caused "more harm than good" and promised to outline options around a November summit with the EU.
Burnham told both the BBC and ITV News that while he would not jump immediately towards any single decision like holding a referendum or fighting the next election on a promise to rejoin, public opinion could influence his party's stance. He emphasized considering "what is doable" and evaluating the pros and cons of each potential option.
However, some within Labour disagree with Burnham’s approach; Michael Marra, leader of Scottish Labour, warned that rejoining the EU is “unrealistic.” Despite this internal division, European leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron have welcomed the possibility, suggesting it could be "excellent news."
Written for “UK Rejoining EU Debate” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 17 other(s) covering the same event.
He announced that he would use the UK-EU summit expected later this year to set out what he believed were the “different options” and attempt to find a political consensus on a way forward.
asserted
he → announce → way
Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech, Labour MP Stella Creasy said “everything must be on the table”, including removing the “red lines” set down in the party’s 2024 manifesto that bar rejoining the EU’s single market or the customs union.
asserted
that → respond → market
She said: “Removing the red lines on Europe is the essential first step to restoring this country’s place on the world stage.
asserted
Removing → say → stage
“We stand with this Prime Minister in making the changes that truly live up to the challenges of 2026, not 2016.”
asserted
that → stand → 2026
In his speech in Liverpool on Tuesday, Mr Burnham said the UK has “lost some control” over the economy and immigration as a result of leaving the EU.
asserted
UK → say → EU
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.
asserted
what → say → relationship
“I cannot say to you that where we are is good enough.
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are → say → you
Brexit has done more harm than good.”
asserted
Brexit → do → harm
A UK-EU summit scheduled for July was postponed after the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer, and a new date has yet to be decided.
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date → schedule → Starmer
Criticising Brexit, he said: “Brexit hasn’t given us control.
asserted
Brexit → criticise → control
We’ve lost some of the control we had over our economy, as a decade of low growth has put us in a weaker position.
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decade → lose → position
And we’ve lost some of our control over immigration.
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we → lose → immigration
So I understand the anger about what is happening in the Channel.
asserted
what → understand → Channel
“Shabana (Mahmood) has done a great job in beginning to restore our grip over the system.”
asserted
Shabana → do → system
He continued: “We make these changes while always grateful to those who have come here and are contributing to our country.
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who → continue → country
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“But control over immigration was weakened when we lost collaboration with our European partners and we are still having to work hard to bring it back.”
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we → read → it
Cabinet minister Heidi Alexander said “no-one wants to go back to the toxicity and divisions” of the Brexit debate, “but you can’t have a conversation about the future of this country and not address this question”.
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you → say → question
At a Politico fringe event in Liverpool, the Transport Secretary said: “I think he’s right to say we need to set out the options.
“
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we → say → options
But he was also pretty clear at saying we need to develop some consensus around this.
asserted
we → say → this
“No-one wants to go back to the toxicity and the divisions of previous Brexit debates.
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one → want → debates
“The world is changing.
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world → change → ?
Europe’s changing.
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Europe → change → ?
You saw those conversations that Canada and Mark Carney were having.
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Canada → see → that
“And so, look, let’s take our time on this.
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’s → look → this
We need to respect the red lines that were set out in the manifesto.
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that → need → manifesto
And I think it is really important for trust in politics that we don’t breach the trust of the British people.
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we → think → people
“But you can’t have a conversation about the future of this country and not address this question.”
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you → have → question
Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, said Mr Burnham should go further and pledge to re-join the bloc.
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Burnham → say → bloc
She said: “Our best-in-class, seat-level polling resoundingly demonstrates half-measures on Europe won’t deliver a Labour-led government at the next general election, or protect us from the waking nightmare of prime minister Nigel Farage.
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measures → say → Farage
“We said it needed to be a deafening alarm bell to every slumbering Labour MP and snoozing No 10 strategist.
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it → say → MP
Burnham’s speech today proves he’s wide awake – and alive to the dangers.
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he → prove → dangers
“It’s vital the Labour government seizes this moment, not in 2029 or a year, or six months’ time.
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government → ’ → 2029
“With the public behind him, progressives imploring them, and the economic case etched in stone, we should signal to the EU – today – that the UK is ready to apply for membership, to take us back to where we belong at the heart of Europe.”
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we → implore → Europe
Conservative deputy leader Alex Burghart said: “Andy Burnham came to office with no plan to tackle the challenges facing our country.
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Burnham → say → country
So instead, he is trying to reopen old wounds by restarting the battles of the Brexit years.
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he → try → years
“Labour cannot pin the blame for their disastrous economic decisions on a vote that happened over a decade ago.
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that → pin → vote
Besides, they are already dragging us into the European Union via the back door with their EU reset.”
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they → drag → reset
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