Stories
Burnham: UK Rejoining EU 'On the Table' as Brexit Harm Outweighs Good
- •British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the UK rejoining the European Union is a viable option, citing that Brexit has caused "more harm than good."
- •Burnham outlined various options for the UK's future relationship with Europe, including maintaining the current status, a customs union, the single market, or full EU rejoining.
- •This announcement marks a significant shift from the Labour Party's previous stance, which had ruled out rejoining the EU's customs union, single market, or the bloc entirely.
- •A high-stakes summit between Burnham and the EU in November is anticipated to lay the groundwork for the future of the UK-EU relationship.
- •Burnham emphasized the necessity of finalizing the long-term nature of the UK-EU relationship for Britain's economic clarity, acknowledging that the current situation is not sufficient.
Key Questions Answered
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the UK rejoining the EU is back on the table because Brexit has caused "more harm than good" to the country. He noted that the government is exploring multiple options to repair the relationship with Europe, ranging from staying as they are to customs unions, single markets, or rejoining completely.
The Labour Party's 2024 manifesto previously ruled out joining the EU's customs union or single market, or rejoining the bloc altogether. Instead, that approach focused entirely on managing the UK-EU relationship and making Brexit work for the country.
Andy Burnham will hold a high-stakes summit with the European Union in November to help lay the foundations for the future of the UK-EU relationship. During this summit, he plans to outline different long-term options for Britain's relationship with its European partners.
