BRUSSELS: The EU said Wednesday it was for London to chart a way forward for Britain’s relations with the bloc, after Prime Minister Andy Burnham put the idea of rejoining on the table.
“The UK is a close and valued partner of the European Union. It is for the UK government to set out how it wishes to develop its relationship with the EU going forward,” European Commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari said.
“We remain open to engaging on the options it may put forward.”
Burnham reopened the divisive Brexit debate Wednesday by saying his centre-left Labour government could go “all the way” and propose membership of the bloc, once it has weighed the “pros and cons” of different possible relationships with Europe.
He has promised to set out “different options” for future ties closer to a planned summit with the 27-member bloc later this year.
UK PM Burnham Rejoining EU Could Be an Option
Burnham said on Wednesday that rejoining the EU could be considered as part of options for redefining Britain’s long-term relationship with the bloc.
Burnham said the government would examine different arrangements, from maintaining the current post-Brexit settlement to joining a customs union or the EU single market, and potentially going “all the way” back to EU membership.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Burnham said: “We could stay as we are. That’s definitely an option, if people think this is the right place to stay.”
“Brexit has caused more harm than good.”
PM Andy Burnham says rejoining the EU is among ‘different options’ he will look at to reshape the UK’s long-term relationship with Europe. pic.twitter.com/NMBUoVC8YX
— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) September 30, 2026
“We could look at what George Osborne has said about a customs union, we could look at what the Liberal Democrats said at their conference about the single market, or we could go all the way.”
“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 added.
‘More Harm than Good’
The remarks came a day after Burnham told the annual Labour Party conference that Brexit had done “more harm than good” and pledged to set out different options for Britain’s long-term relationship with Europe.
Burnham said he did not want the question of Britain’s future relationship with the EU to remain unresolved.
He said the government needed to establish “where we want Britain to go in the next decade” and would consider what was practical before deciding on a future course.
Burnham also acknowledged that he had previously said he wanted Britain to rejoin the EU during his lifetime. But he said that did not necessarily mean rejoining was now his preferred or immediate policy.
“I want to look at the options,” he said when asked directly whether he wanted Britain to rejoin the bloc.
Burnham’s comments mark a departure from the position set out in Labour’s 2024 election manifesto, which ruled out returning to the EU single market or customs union and pledged instead to “make Brexit work”.
His predecessor, Keir Starmer, pursued a more limited reset with Brussels, including closer alignment on food standards, a youth mobility arrangement and linking Britain’s emissions trading system with the EU’s.
Burnham has said he intends to set out the different options around a delayed UK-EU summit later this year.
The summit was originally scheduled for July but was postponed following Starmer’s departure from office.
The two sides had been expected to discuss arrangements covering food and animal safety standards, youth mobility and closer links between their emissions trading systems.
The talks have also faced disagreements over Britain’s participation in EU plans aimed at protecting European industries from foreign competition.
The UK and EU formally ended Britain’s membership of the bloc in 2020, following the 2016 referendum in which 52 per cent of voters backed leaving.
ALSO READ: UK PM Burnham Says Rejoining EU Among Options for Future Relationship
Burnham’s remarks drew criticism from Britain’s Conservative Party and Reform UK, while the Liberal Democrats welcomed the prospect of closer ties with Europe.
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice accused Burnham of trying to “sneak us back into Brussels via the back door”.
Conservative deputy leader Alex Burghart said Labour was looking “backwards” and accused the government of seeking to reopen the Brexit debate.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said his party had already proposed closer economic and defence ties with the EU through the single market and customs union.
French President Emmanuel Macron said it would be “very good news” if Britain wanted to rejoin the EU, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain would welcome Britain back “with open arms”.
