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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.
Ahead of a speech in Doncaster on Thursday, Mr Farage – a key proponent of Brexit ahead of the 2016 referendum – said the Labour leader’s positions on Brussels and devolution were at odds.
asserted
positions → say → odds
“This is the pro-devolution prime minister,” Mr Farage told reporters.
asserted
Farage → tell → reporters
“To even consider rejoining the single market, the customs union, let alone the European Union itself, is the opposite of devolution – a massive transfer of huge powers up to an authority, whereby there’s nothing Parliament could do to change any of it.
uncertain
Parliament → consider → it
“So I find the whole thing totally contradictory.”
asserted
thing → find → ?
When it was put to him that the majority of the public supported rejoining the bloc, the Reform leader suggested they would change their mind once they knew the costs and other implications.
uncertain
they → put → costs
He said: “I actually think that Burnham has made a very big political mistake.”
asserted
Burnham → say → mistake
Mr Farage also told Sky News: “Here in Doncaster and across the north of England, I think
asserted
I → tell → England
what he’s done is open the door to Reform in the most extraordinary way
asserted
done → do → way
The Prime Minister promised in his first Labour Party conference speech in Liverpool on Tuesday to set out options on the country’s ties to Brussels around the time of a UK-EU summit later this year.
asserted
Minister → promise → summit
He later acknowledged this could include an option to go “all the way” and rejoin the bloc if that is what public opinion favoured.
uncertain
opinion → acknowledge → what
He did not rule out putting a pledge to rejoin in Labour’s next election manifesto.
asserted
He → rule → manifesto
Mr Burnham also used his speech to announce an adjustment of the state pension triple lock to pay for social care, and a potential change in the UK’s electoral system.
asserted
Burnham → use → system
A national commission will investigate overhauling the first-past-the-post voting system.
asserted
commission → investigate → system
Mr Farage said he was supportive of “a degree of proportionality”, but that electoral reform was not a priority.
“I always thought a degree of proportionality in British politics would be useful because
asserted
degree → say → politics
what it would mean is significant minority views would at least get a voice in Parliament.
asserted
views → mean → Parliament
As to where you draw that line and how you do it, I don’t know.”
asserted
I → draw → it
He said he backed proposals in the 1998 Jenkins Commission, including that “the man or woman that represents the area still continues to get elected by first past the post”.
asserted
that → say → post
Changing the voting system would “take years”, Mr Farage said, arguing that politicians should focus on more urgent issues such as migrant boat arrivals and soaring borrowing costs.
asserted
politicians → change → arrivals
On Mr Burnham’s plan to break the triple lock’s automatic link with increases in average earnings, the Reform leader said pensioners were the “wrong target”.
asserted
pensioners → break → earnings
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