LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND / RankWire.AI / – British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has opened a broader debate over the United Kingdom’s long-term relationship with the European Union. Burnham told the Labour Party conference that Brexit had caused “more harm than good.” He said Britain needed to decide how it wanted to work with its largest trading partner. The government plans to use a UK-EU summit in November to outline possible approaches. Burnham said the process should examine practical options and their advantages and disadvantages.
Burnham expanded on those remarks on Wednesday by naming several possible models for UK-EU relations. He said Britain could retain its current arrangements or consider closer economic integration. The options could include a customs union, participation in the EU single market, or eventually rejoining the bloc. Burnham did not select a preferred model during those comments. He said the government should assess what could be achieved and seek agreement around a long-term relationship.
The comments mark a shift from Burnham’s public position before he became prime minister in July. In May, he said he was not proposing that Britain rejoin the European Union. He also said he respected the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum. British voters backed leaving the EU in that referendum after more than four decades of membership. Burnham has continued to describe Brexit as economically damaging while calling for a clearer settlement with Europe.
UK-EU summit puts trade and migration in focus
The November UK-EU summit will form part of ongoing talks between London and European institutions. Burnham met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New York on September 22. They discussed preparations for the summit and cooperation on security, migration and global trade pressures. Both sides also discussed efforts to reduce illegal migration and respond to security threats facing Europe. The British government has separately said it wants a closer working relationship with European partners.
Burnham also linked the Brexit debate to immigration and economic growth during his Liverpool speech. He said leaving the EU had weakened cooperation with European countries on immigration controls. He also said Britain had lost some economic control during a period of weak growth. The government plans to seek further gains for industries that experienced disruption after Brexit. Burnham said those measures alone would not settle Britain’s wider relationship with the European Union.
Brexit options return to national debate
Public attitudes toward Europe remain divided a decade after the referendum. A June YouGov survey found 55% supported rejoining the European Union, while 34% opposed it. In a separate question, 59% supported closer ties without rejoining the EU, single market or customs union. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice rejected Burnham’s approach and accused the prime minister of trying to move Britain back toward Brussels. Reform UK has maintained its opposition to renewed EU membership.
Burnham said the government would present the available models around the November summit before pursuing a long-term position. His remarks place Brexit, trade, immigration and European cooperation back among the government’s central policy questions. The European Union has supported closer UK cooperation in areas including security and defence, while detailed summit objectives remain under discussion. Britain formally left the EU in 2020 after the 2016 vote. The government has not announced a decision to rejoin the bloc, single market or customs union.