Burnham says rejoining EU among options for UK's long-term relationship

September 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM2 min

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UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said rejoining the EU is among options the government could examine to reshape the UK's long-term relationship with Europe. He told the BBC the current Brexit settlement had caused "more harm than good" and he wanted to look at "what is doable" to repair relations. The comments come after he pledged at the Labour conference to explore closer ties with the bloc at a delayed summit later this year.

Key Facts

Burnham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the UK could "go all the way" towards rejoining the EU.
He said the current Brexit settlement had caused "more harm than good" and he wanted to look at "what is doable" to repair relations.
Burnham pledged in his Labour conference speech on Tuesday to explore closer ties with the bloc at a delayed summit later this year.
Last week, Burnham left the door open to campaigning at the next general election for a mandate to rejoin the EU.
The Conservatives accused Burnham of trying to "reopen old wounds by restarting the battles of the Brexit years".

Burnham's Comments

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Burnham said he did not want to leave the question of the EU relationship "hanging" and he wanted to be clear on "where we want Britain to go in the next decade". Asked whether he wanted the UK to rejoin the EU, he replied that he wanted to "look at the options". He added he had previously advocated such a move within his lifetime, whilst acknowledging it was "not necessarily the case that that is now". Burnham outlined several possibilities: staying as is, a customs union as suggested by former Chancellor George Osborne, the single market as proposed by the Liberal Democrats, or going "all the way". He said there are clearly options that need to be considered, and "we have to look at what is doable and what would be the pros and cons of each".

Political Reaction

The move could set up a huge dividing line at the next general election, with the Conservatives accusing him of trying to "reopen old wounds by restarting the battles of the Brexit years". Burnham's latest comments are the clearest indication yet he could make a decisive break from Labour's 2024 election manifesto, which pledged to "make Brexit work" whilst ruling out rejoining either its customs union or single market. Predecessor Sir Keir Starmer had instead tried to carve out a more limited reset in relations, including aligning with EU food standards, a youth visa deal and relinking British industry to the EU's carbon trading regime. Sir Keir's departure from office delayed a summer summit with the EU until later this year, at which time Burnham has also said he wants to publish a 10-year plan to transform the UK economy.