- Prime minister Andy Burnham will urge MPs to support closer ties with the EU when parliament returns on Monday, describing sticking with the status quo as a dereliction of duty.
- The address coincides with a parliamentary debate on a petition calling for the United Kingdom to apply to rejoin the European Union.
- Andy Burnham has previously stated that Brexit has done more harm than good and suggested that options for rejoining the bloc could feature in Labour's next election manifesto.
- Recent polling shows nearly three-quarters of Labour voters support including talks to rejoin the EU in the party's next manifesto.
- EU leaders and former officials have warned that the UK would not be offered special terms, rebates, or exemptions if it chose to rejoin the bloc.
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