The Zhitong Finance App learned that British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that he may launch a campaign for Britain to return to the European Union in the next general election, thereby restarting Britain's debate on its relationship with mainland Europe ten years after the Brexit referendum. Burnham listed three options he will discuss at the UK-Europe summit later this year. In an interview on Wednesday morning, he said that one is to rejoin the European Union, the second is to rejoin the EU single market, and the third is to join the customs union.
The prime minister said, “We can maintain the status quo. If the public thinks this is the right position, this is of course an option.” “We can study George Osborne's statement on the customs union,” referring to the former Conservative Finance Minister. He added, “We can study the Liberal Democratic Party's statement on the single market at the party congress. Or we can go all the way.”
Burnham's remarks were the first time since the Brexit referendum ten years ago that the British Prime Minister hinted that he might try to lead Britain back to the European Union. In his keynote address at the Labor Party's annual meeting on Tuesday, he argued that Brexit “will do more harm than good,” but Wednesday's statement went a step further.
Andy Burnham, 56, officially succeeded Keir Stammer as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on July 20, 2026, becoming the 7th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in ten years. After taking office, Burnham quickly reshuffled the cabinet, replaced many of Stammer's core staff, and promised to introduce a ten-year development plan to deal with the cost of living crisis.
Burnham delivered his first party leader's speech since becoming prime minister at the Labor Party's annual meeting in Liverpool. In his speech, he said bluntly: “Brexit has caused more harm than benefit,” and promised to present a series of “options” to redefine the long-term relationship between the UK and Europe at the UK-EU summit later this year.
He stressed that Britain “cannot waste another ten years on the Brexit issue.” This is a major shift in the Labor Party's internal stance on Brexit. However, the “red line” set by the Labor Party in its 2024 campaign declaration — no return to the customs union, single market, and free movement of people — remains in effect during this parliamentary term.
Burnham stressed that during the current parliamentary term, he will abide by the current Labour Party election declaration, which restricts him from keeping Britain outside the single market and customs union. However, in his speech, he said that he hopes to determine a new path for the relationship between Britain and the European Union at the summit later this year, and then create momentum for this in the next general election. He said that the next general election will be held in 2029.