politics
UK Prime Minister Burnham Opens Door to Rejoining EU
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has signalled that rejoining the European Union could be among the options his government considers, marking a shift from the position held by his Labour predecessor.
Speaking at the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool, Burnham said the Brexit deal secured by the Conservatives had done more harm than good.
In a BBC interview broadcast on Wednesday, he outlined a range of possibilities under consideration, from a customs union arrangement to full single market membership, or going further still. He acknowledged that each option carries its own advantages and drawbacks, and that any decision would need to weigh what is practically achievable.
The remarks represent a notable departure from the stance held by his Labour predecessor, Keir Starmer, who had explicitly ruled out rejoining the single market or customs union. Burnham's current government has said it will maintain that position ahead of a general election, whilst leaving the door open for a broader reassessment afterwards.
Burnham is expected to set out the UK's long-term European options at a forthcoming UK-EU summit later this year, marking roughly a decade since the Brexit referendum reshaped the country's relationship with the bloc.