BRITISH Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reopened the debate over Britain’s relationship with the European Union (EU), putting eventual membership among the options.
His remarks challenge Labour’s previous red lines and raise a central question: how far is Britain prepared to go in rebuilding ties with the bloc?
In his first Labour Party conference speech as prime minister on Tuesday, Burnham said “Brexit has done more harm than good”, and laid out options for “Britain’s long-term relationship with our European partners”.
In an interview broadcast by the BBC the next day, he said rejoining the EU was one option. “I would like to see Britain rejoin in my lifetime,” he said, but added that he would “look at the different options”.
Those options range from maintaining the current relationship to joining a customs union, participating in the single market or returning to full EU membership. They involve different degrees of economic integration and political commitment.
The openness to reconsidering those options contrasts with Labour’s 2024 election manifesto, which ruled out returning to the single market or customs union and restoring freedom of movement. Burnham had also previously pledged not to reopen “divisive arguments about rejoining the EU”, according to the Financial Times.
Xinhua
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