LONDON: UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said rejoining the European Union is among the possible options for Britain’s future relationship with the bloc, as his government prepares to discuss closer ties with Europe.
In an interview broadcast on Wednesday, Burnham said the question of Britain’s long-term relationship with the EU could not be ignored and that different options would need to be examined.
Future EU relationship
Burnham said possible approaches could include joining the European single market and customs union, or taking further steps towards closer integration with the bloc.
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“So there are clearly options that need to be considered, and we have to look at what is doable, and what would be the pros and cons of each,” he said.
The prime minister added that leaving the issue unresolved was not a sustainable approach for the UK’s future.
Burnham, who became prime minister in July, previously campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU during the 2016 Brexit referendum and has said he hopes the country could return to the bloc within his lifetime.
Brexit and economic concerns
Speaking at the Labour Party conference, Burnham said Brexit had contributed to a period of low economic growth and argued that Britain needed a clearer long-term relationship with its largest trading market.
The UK voted to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum, formally ending its membership in 2020.
Planned UK-EU summit
A UK-EU summit, originally planned for July in Brussels, was delayed after former prime minister Keir Starmer was replaced as Labour leader by Burnham.
Reports said November 20 had been proposed as a possible new date for the summit, although it has not been officially confirmed.
The two sides are expected to discuss potential agreements covering areas such as food and animal safety standards, a youth mobility scheme and linking emissions-trading systems.
