Andy Burnham puts rejoining the European Union on table as UK prepares new options for Brussels summit

Reopening the European debate

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that rejoining the European Union is among the long-term options his government will evaluate for the country's relationship with the bloc. Speaking to BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday following his address to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Burnham confirmed that all structural paths remain open. The options under consideration range from preserving the status quo to entering a customs union, rejoining the single market, or seeking full EU membership. Burnham noted that each pathway will be assessed for feasibility alongside its advantages and disadvantages. His remarks diverge from the platform adopted when Labour took office in 2024, which barred single market and customs union access. Burnham argued that leaving Britain's international direction unresolved creates prolonged uncertainty for the country.

It is not satisfactory to leave this question hanging in the air.

Economic and border arguments

During his conference address in Liverpool on Tuesday, Burnham stated that leaving the European Union had done more harm than good to the country. He linked the 2016 Brexit decision to a decade of subdued economic growth and called for an open assessment of structural alternatives to restore higher growth and prosperity. Burnham also challenged arguments made during the 2016 campaign regarding border management and immigration. He argued that migration was managed more effectively when Britain maintained institutional cooperation with the EU, including shared mechanisms to address small boat crossings. The policy discussion coincides with official economic data showing UK gross domestic product expanded by 0.5% in the second quarter of 2026, revised upward from an initial estimate of 0.4%.

Political reactions and party red lines

Burnham's willingness to reconsider membership drew immediate criticism from opposition figures. Alex Burghart, deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, accused the Prime Minister of trying to reopen old wounds from past Brexit arguments. Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, asserted that the government was trying to drag the country back into the EU through the back door. The approach departs from the three conditions established under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer in 2024, which ruled out rejoining the single market, the customs union, and free movement of people. Starmer previously held a UK-EU summit in London in May 2025 before resigning from office, which led to Burnham succeeding him as Labour leader and Prime Minister.

Upcoming Brussels summit

A planned bilateral summit between the UK and the European Union was originally scheduled for July 2026 before being delayed by the leadership change in London. Diplomats cited by the Financial Times expect the summit to convene in Brussels on 20 November 2026. Negotiations are expected to address the European Union's Made in Europe policy, which aims to give EU companies preference in designated economic sectors. British negotiators plan to request equivalent treatment for UK firms operating in those markets. Burnham previously stated in early June 2026 that he hoped Britain would rejoin the bloc in his lifetime, but he confirmed that his administration has not chosen a final model ahead of the summit.