'More harm than good': Burnham reopens Brexit question, puts EU rejoin back on table
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has signaled a potential shift in policy regarding the UK's relationship with the European Union, suggesting that Brexit has caused more harm than good. He has opened the door to exploring options ranging from closer ties to eventually rejoining the bloc.
Why it matters
This marks a significant pivot for the Labour Party, which previously committed to making Brexit work, and could reignite intense political debate over the UK's future in Europe.
British prime minister Andy Burnham has reopened one of the country's most divisive political questions, saying Brexit has done "more harm than good" and signalling that Britain could consider everything from a closer relationship with the European Union to eventually rejoining the bloc.Speaking at the Labour Party conference, Burnham said the UK's current relationship with Europe was not "good enough" and promised to set out different options around a UK-EU summit later this year. Asked directly whether Britain should rejoin the EU, he said he wanted to "look at the options", ranging from staying as it is to considering a customs union, the single market or going "all the way".The comments mark a significant shift from the position Labour took at the 2024 election, when it promised to "make Brexit work" while ruling out rejoining the EU's customs union or single market.
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4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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