Andy Burnham says he could go all the way and rejoin EU

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated that his administration is prepared to consider every option regarding the UK's long-term relationship with Brussels, acknowledging for the first time that Britain could go "all the way" and rejoin the European Union. Speaking on the broadcast circuit during the Express – Politics LIVE coverage following his keynote address in Liverpool, the Prime Minister argued that Brexit had generated a decade of drift and division while doing "more harm than good" to the national economy. The shift marks a distinct departure from Labour's 2024 election manifesto, which explicitly ruled out rejoining the single market, customs union, or restoring freedom of movement.

Detailing the scope of the upcoming review on the BBC, Mr Burnham explained that the government would examine multiple pathways to repair trading and political ties. We could stay as we are. That’s definitely an option, if people think this is the right place to stay, he told the Today programme. He added that ministers could also evaluate a customs union along the lines proposed by former Conservative chancellor George Osborne, or single market alignment as discussed at the Liberal Democrat conference, before reiterating that the administration could also go "all the way."

Media additions

The The Herald reports that the Prime Minister wants to avoid leaving the issue hanging, intending to present concrete options to the public around the time of a delayed UK-EU summit. That diplomatic gathering was originally scheduled for July but postponed following the departure of Sir Keir Starmer from Downing Street.

Political opposition was swift. According to the Hounslow Herald, Conservative deputy leader Alex Burghart accused the Prime Minister of hypocrisy, noting that during his recent Makerfield by-election campaign, Mr Burnham promised not to rerun old Brexit arguments. Just a few weeks ago he said he wanted to move on from the Brexit arguments and now he is dragging Britain back into them by floating the prospect of rejoining the EU, Mr Burghart said via the Express, adding that Labour could not blame a democratic vote from over a decade ago for its own economic decisions. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice similarly alleged that the government was attempting to sneak the nation back into Brussels through the back door.

Beyond European affairs, the Prime Minister used his conference address to unveil sweeping domestic reforms, including a plan to adjust the state pension triple lock from April 2030 to help fund a new national care service free at the point of use. Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake criticized the measure on Times Radio, describing it as robbing Peter to pay Paul and stating that the Tories would instead target working-age welfare benefits to achieve savings.

The broader fiscal backdrop remains tightly constrained. As reported by Yahoo News Canada, official figures from the Office for National Statistics revised second-quarter gross domestic product growth to 0.5%, though annual growth for the preceding year was marked down. Concurrently, households face severe cost-of-living pressures. Cornwall Insight forecasters warned that standard dual-fuel bills could climb significantly, reaching £1,999 a year by January 2027, compounding the anxiety of a 16% rise compared to October.

Mr Burnham acknowledged that Chancellor John Healey’s upcoming Budget leaves little room for manoeuvre, though he pointed to the removal of VAT from household electricity bills and a planned £2 bus fare cap next year as initial steps to ease financial strain.

What to Watch Next

• The rescheduled UK-EU summit later this year, where the Prime Minister has promised to publish formal options regarding Britain's long-term relationship with Brussels.
• Chancellor John Healey's inaugural Budget next month, which will set out immediate fiscal measures amid warnings of constrained public finances and rising energy bills.
• Further debate within Parliament as opposition parties prepare to challenge any potential abandonment of the 2024 manifesto commitments on the single market and customs union.