Andy Burnham opens debate on UK ties with European Union at Labour conference

Conference address in Liverpool

Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Tuesday, ten weeks after succeeding Keir Starmer in July 2026. In his speech, Burnham said that the UK's current post-Brexit settlement had weakened the national economy and reduced control over borders and domestic industry. He pledged to present several paths for Britain's future ties with European partners ahead of a bilateral meeting later this year.

“Brexit has done more harm than good.”

Delegates in the conference hall applauded the change in language, while journalists in attendance expressed scepticism over whether political consensus on European integration was achievable. Burnham argued that low growth over the past decade placed Britain in a weaker position, pointing out that the current relationship with the European Union remained inadequate for UK trade.

Options for European integration

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday morning, Burnham expanded on the potential directions for UK-EU policy. He stated that the government would evaluate keeping the status quo, pursuing a customs union as proposed by former chancellor George Osborne, seeking single market access in line with Liberal Democrat proposals, or pursuing full membership.

“We could look at what George Osborne has said about a customs union, we could look at what the Liberal Democrats said at their conference about the single market, or we could go all the way.”

Burnham discussed the upcoming UK-EU summit with Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a bilateral meeting in Manchester. The British government has recently sought inclusion in a collective European defence investment programme and the Made in Europe manufacturing initiative.

Domestic reforms and economic agenda

Beyond European policy, Burnham presented plans to alter state pension funding by reforming the triple lock mechanism, which raises state pensions annually by the highest of three economic measures. The prime minister stated that savings generated from these changes would fund a new National Care Service for the elderly, modeled on the National Health Service. With UK economic growth running at 1.3% annually, the expansion of social care would require increased tax revenue rather than cuts.

Burnham also proposed reforming the British majoritarian voting model. In his address, he noted that the government drew inspiration from former prime minister Gordon Brown, who served from 2007 to 2010. Burnham appointed several former Brown aides and ministers to his cabinet, including Chancellor John Healey, Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander, and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband.

Foreign policy and opposition response

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband used his early tenure in the Burnham administration to implement trade sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Cross-party Foreign Affairs Committee chair Emily Thornberry endorsed the decision during an event at the conference on Tuesday.

“As far as I'm concerned, the only important consideration is that the government has finally done the right thing.”

The Conservative opposition criticised Burnham's focus on European policy. Alex Burghart, deputy leader of the UK Conservatives, accused the government of seeking to reopen previous political debates and attempting to blame current economic difficulties on the 2016 referendum result.