Key facts
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham wants the UK to rejoin the EU within his lifetime.
- Burnham ruled out rejoining the EU during the current parliament.
- He believes Brexit has weakened the UK's economy and immigration control.
- Burnham backs migration reforms requiring foreign workers to wait 15 years for residency.
- Burnham ruled out calling an early general election.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated Monday that he wants the U.K. to rejoin the European Union within his lifetime but ruled out such a move during the current parliament. Burnham told ITV's Good Morning Britain that the promises of the 2016 referendum have not been delivered, resulting in a harder Brexit that has weakened the economy and immigration control. He is not proposing rejoining in this Parliament but wants practical steps to improve the current arrangement. Burnham also backs the principle of migration reforms requiring foreign workers to wait 15 years for permanent residency.