Move to rejoin EU among options for UK, says Burnham
- On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the Labour Party conference in Liverpool that Brexit "has done more harm than good," promising to outline options for the UK's relationship with the European Union.
- Following Keir Starmer's resignation, Burnham took office without a general election and now seeks to "find consensus" on clarifying the UK's long-term position amid shifting political dynamics.
- While refusing to rule out rejoining, Burnham warned the European Commission's "Made in Europe" procurement plans could damage British industry, stating "There are clearly options that need to be considered, and we have to look at what is doable."
- Brussels has shown little appetite for granting membership benefits without new guarantees, while Burnham announced a commission on electoral reform, warning a divisive movement could enter government on less than 30 per cent of the vote.
- Tony Blair urged Burnham to make rejoining a reformed EU the cornerstone of his 10-year plan due in November, with the government set to present its strategy at a UK-EU summit delayed since July.
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The Korea Times
The StandardBreturn? Wary EU waits for actions, not words from UK
BRUSSELS — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham may have shifted the dial by floating a return for his country to the European Union. But after a rollercoaster decade since the Brexit vote, the U.K. rejoining is only a distant prospect and Brussels is waiting first to see what London wants next. "It's positive. It improves the tone," one EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP. "But we're not going to change our approach because…
Ten years after Brexit, who represented the greatest success of the sovereignists, the new Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham broke the taboo: Britain could rethink it and return to the Brussels family. It is only an option on the table, but it has the strength of a countercurrent proposal.
Among the alternatives proposed by the Prime Minister are maintaining the current situation, establishing a customs union, re-entering the European single market or full membership.
Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez welcomed reflections on a new British EU membership.
Andy Burnham wants UK to consider EU re-entry
"We could stay as we are. That's definitely an option, if people think this is the right place to stay," Burnham said, listing certain options including one to "go all the way". It is not clear how Burnham will canvass opinion on the EU, but he said in his conference speech that he would "take the opportunity around the summit to lay out to you, to lay out to the country, what I believe the different options are".
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