Andy Burnham leaves door open to reversing Brexit
Andy Burnham has left the door open to reversing Brexit after refusing to rule out a pledge to rejoin the EU at the next election, reports BritPanorama.
The Prime Minister indicated that whether Labour could promise to take Britain back into the bloc in its next manifesto was a question “for another day.” This marks a significant shift in tone from his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, who vowed to “make Brexit work” and ruled out a return to the EU, Single Market, or customs union.
Mr. Burnham was pressed on his Brexit plans while en route to New York for his first United Nations General Assembly as Prime Minister. He stated, “Our focus at the moment is on a UK-EU summit which we hope will take place later this year.”
He acknowledged the need to build on the groundwork laid by Starmer in rebuilding bridges with the EU. “Those bridges were broken in the early part of this decade, and Keir did a good job in re-establishing that relationship,” Burnham said. He emphasized the importance of reaching practical agreements to further boost the British economy.
On the possibility of rejoining the EU, he noted, “The other issues you discuss… they are for another day.” Burnham has previously suggested he would like Britain to rejoin the EU “within my lifetime,” but later clarified that he respects the outcome of the 2016 referendum.
His Europe minister, Hamish Falconer, has also refrained from dismissing the idea of a rejoin pledge in the Labour party’s next manifesto. Burnham plans to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New York as he aims to deepen ties with Brussels.
However, he cautioned that the EU’s “Made in Europe” measures could negatively impact British firms and supply chains. “We do have concerns about Made in Europe, which is something that could affect British industry and British supply chains,” he stated. Burnham promised to address these concerns while working towards a successful EU-UK summit later this year.
In his upcoming speech to world leaders at the UN, Brexit will also be a prominent theme as he reflects on the political turbulence experienced over the past decade. He remarked, “What we’ve experienced is when that turbulence comes, when outside actors seek to manipulate, to distort facts, influence the British democratic process — going into the next decade we need to be clear-eyed about that and become stronger and more on the front foot about challenging that.”
Burnham’s comments highlight the ongoing complexity surrounding Britain’s relationship with the EU in the context of evolving political dynamics and economic concerns.
As discussions about the UK’s future place in Europe continue, they serve as a reminder of the delicate balance between national sovereignty and international partnerships.
