Escalating Russian aggression and an unpredictable Donald Trump mean Andy Burnham should aim to regain full membership of the European Union, a major new report has warned, reports BritPanorama.
Being part of the EU is necessary to protect the UK’s prosperity, security and democracy, and the prime minister should work to build a national consensus in favour of re-entry, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) argues.
However, the Labour leader should “stop talking about Brexit” and recognise that the EU is a very different entity from the one the UK left in 2016, shaped by a series of different threats and challenges, including Vladimir Putin’s war on the edge of Europe, it said.
The stark message by the leading think tank, which has close links to Labour, is bolstered by new polling commissioned by IPPR and Persuasion UK, showing a 64–36 split in favour of regaining membership to the bloc among those expressing a view.
Even among Labour voters considering switching to Nigel Farage’s Reform, 54 per cent want to join the EU, compared with 36 per cent who prefer to stay out, the poll found.
Harry Quilter-Pinner, IPPR executive director, stated: “The government has made important progress in repairing relations with Europe, but a series of individual deals will not suffice. There is one option which is best for the UK’s relationship with Europe – membership of the EU. This does not mean announcing another referendum tomorrow, but starting the work to move towards this destination, building political support at home and in Europe.”
Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, who previously described rejoining the EU as the “only patriotic thing to do” for Britain and stated that Mr Burnham would be the man to do it, endorsed the IPPR’s call. He remarked: “As the IPPR says and every sensible citizen knows, the world has changed traumatically in 10 years. That reality, together with our proximity to our biggest market, indicates that the rational course is for the UK to join the EU again in the national interest. Patriotism, prosperity and security all propel the UK in that direction.”
The prime minister recently noted it was “possible” Labour’s next election manifesto could include an in-out referendum on EU membership, marking his strongest signal yet regarding intentions to repair the damage from the UK’s departure.
Additionally, he announced at his party’s annual conference last month that he would explore other options that could bring Britain closer to the bloc.
The IPPR report finds that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine means “the EU is being transformed” and the bloc that Britain would join is fundamentally different from the one it left. Increasingly a major security alliance, it is ramping up defence spending across the continent, which has significant implications for industry and supply chains. However, it warns that British politics still debates its relationship with the EU of a decade ago.
Laura Chappell, associate director at IPPR, remarked: “It’s time to stop talking about Brexit and focus entirely on the future. A lot has changed over the past decade. The prime minister has said his mission is to give people back control, but Britain can’t do that alone anymore.”
“Whether it’s protecting households from swings in the cost of living, restarting industry, or ensuring security, we lack the weight to act alone. In today’s world, we can’t take back control while being an outsider in Europe.”
The IPPR calls on the government to collaborate with the EU to establish a European Defence Alliance, with the UK contributing capabilities that would enable Europe to rely less on the US, including satellite communications. Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Mr Trump had betrayed Ukraine by limiting access to a vital Starlink satellite communications system amid the Russian invasion.
Elon Musk’s Starshield – the military version of Starlink – has provided crucial support to Ukraine in defending against incoming attacks, as well as in targeting Russian positions. However, Ukrainian officials reported issues with it following a downturn in relations between Mr Trump and Ukraine, subsequent to his announcement of a deal to waive sanctions on Russian diesel and his call for Mr Zelensky to be replaced.
Reacting to the IPPR report, Nick Boles, the former Tory minister who helped prepare Labour for office before it entered government in 2024, said: “At last, a report that recognises how much has changed in the world since Brexit.” He added that a much closer relationship with European allies was necessary to tackle collective defence, security challenges, and economic threats posed by AI and unfair competition from China.
Dr Mike Galsworthy, chair of the pro-EU group European Movement UK, remarked: “The Brexit vote may have been cast just a decade ago, but in geopolitical terms, it feels like a previous age. The IPPR is correct that we exist in a new era with urgent demands and solutions available. There is a new mood in the country regarding where we belong in the world, reassessing the responsibilities and opportunities we should be accepting.”
Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, which campaigns for the UK to restore its EU membership, stated that as a result of Brexit, the UK is “worse off, less secure, and increasingly isolated.” She opined that with the next decade in sight, it was essential to contemplate the course to chart. “Prioritising being safer, better off and back around the table with our reliable allies and close neighbours is the only acceptable option for the UK: we either tackle the multifaceted crises together, or continue on a path of stagnating growth, diminishing influence, and concerning security risks,” she said.
A government spokesperson maintained: “We are establishing an ambitious, close relationship with the EU that will strengthen our economy and create more opportunities for young people and communities across the whole UK.”
Persuasion UK polled 3,039 people from 11–15 June and another 2,907 from 25–30 June.
As Prime Minister Andy Burnham considers the future of Britain’s relationship with Europe, the complexities of reintegration into the EU remain evident, necessitating a careful approach to transitioning amidst a changing geopolitical landscape.
