Manchester, England, October 1, 2026 In a significant shift for British politics, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has opened the door to rejoining the European Union, a move that could reshape relations with Europe and spark a new debate over the country’s relationship with the continent.
During his Labour party’s annual conference in Manchester on Tuesday, Burnham, who replaced Keir Starmer as Prime Minister in July 2024, suggested that Brexit, which took effect in 2020, had done “more harm than good” and triggered “a decade of low growth.” The statement marked a departure from Starmer’s 2024 election manifesto, which ruled out rejoining the customs union, single market, or allowing freedom of movement with the EU.
Burnham proposed considering “all the way” re-entry into the EU as one option to improve relations with Europe, alongside alternatives such as joining the European single market and customs union. He emphasized the need to assess what is “doable” and weigh the pros and cons of each option ahead of a planned UK-EU summit later in 2024, which may be held in November but has not yet been confirmed.
French President Emmanuel Macron responded positively in English after talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid, saying “Welcome back” and adding that if the UK sought to rejoin, it would be “very good news both for his country and for Europeans.” Sanchez echoed this, stating Spain would “applaud it and open its arms again to a brotherly people” if the UK asked to return. The European Commission, through spokesman Balazs Ujvari, said it remained open to engaging on any options the UK might propose.
However, Burnham acknowledged he is currently bound by Starmer’s 2024 election manifesto, and suggested he might support another referendum in Labour’s next election manifesto if public opinion shifts toward re-entry. A Survation poll from June 2024 found 55 percent of voters would opt to rejoin the EU if a referendum were held again. Public opinion in Manchester during the Labour conference appeared divided, with some warning of renewed division and others, like stall owner Sally Jones, expressing support for full re-entry and unrestricted travel.
Right-wing critics, including Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, accused Burnham of trying to “sneak us back into Brussels via the back door,” while figures like Anand Menon of the UK in a Changing Europe think-tank cautioned that Burnham had only proposed initiating a conversation, noting resistance within his own cabinet. As the UK-EU summit approaches, the calculus of re-entry remains complex, with strategic implications for both Britain and the broader EU.
The question of whether and how the UK will re-engage with its continental neighbors will be one to watch in the coming months.
