Andy Burnham discusses possible return of the UK to the EU

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday that a return of the United Kingdom to the European Union could be one option among others for the future of bilateral relations. During his speech on Tuesday at the Labor conference in Liverpool, the head of the Labor government said he wanted to present “different options” for long-term relations with the EU at a summit planned for the end of the year.

Interviewed on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday, he spoke of a possible status quo, "if people think that's where we should stay", a return to the customs union, to the single market, "or go all the way", that is to say rejoin the EU.

“Clearly there are options to consider and we need to consider what is feasible and the pros and cons of each,” the prime minister continued, adding that “it is not satisfactory to leave this issue unresolved.” But he has not indicated at this stage which option he prefers.

Andy Burnham, who campaigned against Brexit in 2016, said on Tuesday that leaving the EU had “done more harm than good” to the United Kingdom, particularly economically. At the beginning of June, he said he “hoped” that the United Kingdom would return to the EU “during (his) lifetime”. The Labor Party was brought to power in 2024 with a program carrying the idea of ​​a rapprochement with the EU, but with three red lines: no return to the customs union, no return to the single market, nor restoration of the free movement of people.

The EU-UK summit was initially scheduled for July, but had to be postponed due to the resignation of previous Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was succeeded by Andy Burnham as leader of Labor and the government. A first EU/United Kingdom summit was organized in London in May 2025 by Keir Starmer, as part of his strategy of rapprochement with the 27.

One of the thorny subjects of the next summit will be the European policy known as “Made in Europe”, which aims to favor European companies and products in certain sectors. The United Kingdom wants its companies to benefit from the same treatment.