Politics · United Kingdom · 3 hrs ago
Burnham calls for closer UK relationship with the EU
Andy Burnham called for Britain to build a closer relationship with the EU after returning from his party’s conference.
He also said it was clear the Kremlin had been involved in the 2016 Brexit referendum, a claim that breaks with earlier UK government statements.
Britain voted to leave the EU in 2016, and its relationship with the bloc remains a subject of political debate.
Keir Starmer’s government has sought cooperation while ruling out rejoining the single market or customs union and restoring freedom of movement.
Burnham has not explained in detail what closer ties would involve.
His comments mark a rhetorical shift, but the practical details remain unclear.
Andy Burnham called for a closer relationship between the UK and the EU after returning from his party conference.
He said the country should draw a line under a decade of “drift and division”.
Burnham also said it was “clear” the Kremlin had been involved in the 2016 Brexit referendum vote.
His remarks mark a rhetorical break from predecessors, but he has not set out detailed proposals.
Keir Starmer’s government has pursued cooperation with the EU while ruling out rejoining the single market and customs union and restoring freedom of movement.
- Who
- Andy Burnham, who called for closer ties with the EU.
- What
- He called for a closer UK relationship with the EU and said the country should draw a line under a decade of “drift and division”.
- When
- Yesterday, according to the article published on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- He said the UK should draw a line under a decade of “drift and division”. The sources do not give further details of his reasons.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The UK held the Brexit referendum.
The UK was seen in Brussels as a model of how not to run a country, Jennifer Rankin said.
The Withdrawal Agreement Act passed, softening the impression of the UK in Brussels.
The Windsor framework amended arrangements under the Northern Ireland protocol.
Burnham called for a closer relationship with the EU after his party conference.
- Speaker
- Andy Burnham
- Publication date
- 13 October 2026
- Referendum year
- 2016
- Withdrawal Agreement Act
- Early 2020
- Windsor framework
- 2023
- Starmer government red lines
- No rejoining the single market or customs union, and no freedom of movement
What people are saying
clear
drift and division
From 2016 to 2020, the UK was seen as a model of how not to run your country
That was a turning point in drawing a line under the bad blood of the Brexit years
Sources
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