Andy Burnham leaves open possibility of rejoining the EU
Labour’s Andy Burnham has signalled a willingness to consider including a pledge to rejoin the EU in the party’s next manifesto, reports BritPanorama.
This comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak prepares to address world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he will proclaim Britain is entering a new era, saying the country is moving beyond the turbulence of Brexit.
When asked by a reporter if he could rule out a commitment to rejoin the bloc in Labour’s manifesto, Burnham stated that it is a question “for another day.”
Burnham’s newly appointed minister for European relations, Hamish Falconer, has also refrained from discounting a manifesto promise to rejoin the EU on multiple occasions in recent months.
Polling expert Sir John Curtice recently reported that support for re-entering the EU has reached an all-time high of 61%. A poll conducted this past weekend indicated that nearly every constituency in the UK now favours reversing Brexit.
Burnham indicated his focus on an upcoming UK-EU summit, planned for later this year, which he believes will help mend relationships that have been strained in recent years.
He aims to negotiate a “practical agreement” with the EU that could enhance the British economy, though he expressed concerns about the EU’s new “Made in Europe” policy, fearing it might negatively impact British industries and supply chains.
Burnham plans to discuss his concerns with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during their meeting in New York.
Previously, Burnham has expressed support for the UK re-entering the EU, advocating for a “deeper relationship” with the bloc while maintaining respect for democratic decisions and not wishing to reignite past Brexit debates.
However, the inclusion of a pledge to rejoin in Labour’s manifesto could, in theory, grant Prime Minister Sunak a mandate from the British populace for this policy.
In July, Falconer also did not dismiss including a rejoin promise in Labour’s platform. Earlier this month, during a contentious exchange in the House of Commons, he faced repeated pressure to rule out such a promise but instead emphasised his commitment to enhancing the existing Brexit agreement left by the Conservative Party.
Support for rejoining the EU has surged to its highest level since the Brexit vote, though Sir John cautioned that political leaders must act swiftly to capitalise on shifting public sentiment to avoid missed opportunities.
Polling data indicated that almost all but four constituencies in Great Britain would back the idea of reversing Brexit and rejoining the EU, based on a recent survey of 11,927 UK voters.
Burnham also condemned “outside actors” attempting to distort the democratic process when queried about the UK’s potential membership status after the EU’s offer to Canada.
He noted that the EU has made it clear that such an arrangement isn’t available for the UK. Burnham remarked on the need to confront outside influences that seek to manipulate public opinion, highlighting a greater awareness of these challenges in future political discourse.
Burnham asserted that the UK has received “considerable support” from EU member states regarding concerns about the Made in Europe policy, framing these discussions as collaborative rather than confrontational.
“We are not the problem,” he stated, advocating for a narrative that avoids collateral damage to British interests.
