Politics · United Kingdom · 1 hr ago
Burnham reopens debate over Britain’s relationship with the EU
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has brought the debate over Brexit back into British politics.
The UK left the European Union in January 2020, after years of political dispute following the 2016 referendum.
Burnham says Brexit has done more harm than good and wants to deepen the UK’s relationship with the EU.
He says this could happen without joining the EU customs union or single market, or restoring freedom of movement.
Ahead of a UK-EU summit in Brussels on 20 November, the government is looking at possible agreements on youth mobility, food and drink, and energy.
Burnham argues closer ties could support economic growth and help reduce illegal immigration, while critics say voters already settled the question.
He has also said Labour’s next election manifesto could promise an in-out referendum, but says the public would decide what happens.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reopened debate over Britain’s relationship with the European Union.
He says the UK should deepen its relationship with the EU while remaining outside the customs union and single market and retaining restrictions on freedom of movement.
Burnham says Brexit has done more harm than good and argues that a closer relationship could support economic growth and help cut illegal immigration.
He has raised the possibility of an in-out referendum being promised in Labour’s next general election manifesto.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says the plan risks reviving old arguments without much chance of success, while former Brexit minister Lord Frost says voters’ decision should be defended.
- Who
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reopened the debate. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and former Brexit minister Lord Frost are among his critics.
- What
- Burnham wants to deepen the UK’s relationship with the EU and has raised the possibility of an in-out referendum in Labour’s next manifesto.
- When
- Burnham made the case at the Labour Party Conference last month and again in the House of Commons. The article was published on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- The debate has taken place at the Labour Party Conference and in the House of Commons. A UK-EU summit is planned in Brussels.
- Why
- Burnham argues that a closer relationship could boost economic growth and help cut illegal immigration.
Andy Burnham
Kemi Badenoch and Lord Frost
Purpose of closer EU ties
Andy Burnham
Burnham says a pragmatic deepening of the relationship could support growth and help cut illegal immigration.
Kemi Badenoch and Lord Frost
Badenoch says the plan risks reviving old arguments with little prospect of success; Frost says politicians should defend voters’ decision.
Referendum
Andy Burnham
Burnham has raised the possibility of an in-out referendum in Labour’s next manifesto and says the public will decide.
Kemi Badenoch and Lord Frost
Frost argues voters made their decision a decade ago and are owed politicians willing to defend it.
The UK held its referendum on membership of the European Union.
The UK left the European Union at 23:00.
Burnham made his case for a changed relationship with the EU at the Labour Party Conference.
Burnham made the case again in the House of Commons, according to the article published that day.
A UK-EU summit is scheduled to take place in Brussels.
- Referendum
- Thursday, 23 June 2016
- UK departure from EU
- 23:00 on Friday, 31 January 2020
- Planned summit
- Friday 20 November in Brussels
- Areas for short-term progress
- Youth mobility, food and drink, and energy
- Burnham’s stated aims
- Cut illegal immigration and boost economic growth
What people are saying
the status quo is not good enough for Britain.
This country in the next decade needs to know where it's going. There are no assumptions here, and as I said, the British public will be the boss of whatever is decided,
They weighed the arguments and made a decision. The least they are owed is politicians willing to defend it,
Sources
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