UK PM Burnham suggests rejoining EU is an option for future relationship

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Burnham said he did not want to leave the question of the EU relationship "hanging" and wanted to be clear on "where we want Britain to go in the next decade". When asked directly if he wanted the UK to rejoin the EU, he replied that he wanted to "look at the options". He mentioned that staying as the UK currently is, adopting a customs union as proposed by former Chancellor George Osborne, or joining the single market as suggested by the Liberal Democrats, were all possibilities before "going all the way" to rejoin the EU.

Burnham's comments come after he pledged in his Labour conference speech on Tuesday to explore closer ties with the bloc at a delayed summit later this year. He blamed Brexit for a loss of control over both immigration and the economy, telling delegates he did not believe the current relationship was "good enough". He promised to "find consensus" on an option to clarify the UK's position.

However, the move could set up a significant dividing line at the next general election, with Conservative deputy leader Alex Burghart accusing him of trying to "reopen old wounds by restarting the battles of the Brexit years". Burghart also stated that Labour was "already dragging us into the European Union via the back door with their EU reset". Burnham's latest comments appear to be a decisive break from Labour's 2024 election manifesto, which pledged to "make Brexit work" while ruling out rejoining either the customs union or single market. His predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, had previously advocated for 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.