Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday Britain should consider options for its future relationship with the European Union, including rejoining the bloc, doubling down on his message that Brexit had "done more harm than good".
At his Labour Party's annual conference on Tuesday, Burnham, who campaigned to stay in the EU in a 2016 referendum on membership, argued the nation should again consider options for "Britain's long-term relationship with our European partners".
He said Britain's departure from the bloc had failed to fulfil its supporters' pledge of "taking back control", and instead had made the nation weaker, especially on the economy and on dealing with high levels of immigration.
Speaking to the BBC, Burnham again said Britain should consider several options for a future relationship, including not only full membership but also rejoining the EU's single market or a customs union - reigniting a divisive debate that has split the country for the last 10 years.
"We could stay as we are. That's definitely an option, if people think this is the right place to stay," Burnham said, listing certain options including one to "go all the way". It is not clear how Burnham will canvass opinion on the EU, but he said in his conference speech that he would "take the opportunity around the summit to lay out to you, to lay out to the country, what I believe the different options are".
An EU-UK summit was postponed from July 22 following Keir Starmer's resignation as prime minister, and it could now happen in November, although any formal move would have to wait until the next election, due by mid-2029.
Londoners who Reuters spoke to on their morning commute largely supported an effort to rejoin the bloc, although there were doubts.
"I'm sort of open to getting closer to Europe, but I'm not sure the country needs another Brexit debate all over again," actuary Roy Taylor, 59, said.
Burnham said the options should be assessed based on "what is doable" and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Burnham has said he will stick to Starmer's government pledges made at the last election in 2024, which included the promise to "stay outside of the EU" and no return to the single market, the customs union or freedom of movement.
Another issue would be whether the EU would want to offer Britain re-entry on terms which Burnham might favour.
