Andy Burnham confirms that Labour will consider rejoining the EU at the next election
The prime minister said "Brexit has done more harm than good" and that 60% of the British public agrees with that statement
Andy Burnham has confirmed that Labour could look at taking the UK back into the EU at the next election.
In an interview with the BBC, Burnham said he will strengthen ties between Britain and the EU, and that as part of this he will look at three options: rejoining the EU, rejoining the single market, and entering a customs union.
In the interview, Burnham made clear that rejoining the EU is an option, stating: “I have said in the book that I would like to see Britain rejoin in my lifetime so there’s no point me saying otherwise.”
Burnham said “I will say this bluntly, Brexit has caused more harm than good and I think around 60% of the British public agree with that statement.”
He added: “So the question is, what do we do about that.”
In terms of options, Burnham said: “We could look at what George Osborne has said about a customs union”
“We could look at what the Liberal Democrats said at their conference about the single market. Or we could go all the way.”
This is despite the prime minister’s comments back in May, when he said: “I’m not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU. I respect the decision that was made with the referendum.”
“My view is that Brexit has been damaging, but I also believe the last thing we should do right now is re-run those arguments”.
A recent poll by YouGov for Best for Britain found that Labour would likely win 321 seats in the Commons at the next election if Burnham promised to reverse Brexit.
Naomi Smith, Chief Executive of Best for Britain, said: “Our best-in-class, seat-level polling resoundingly demonstrates half-measures on Europe won’t deliver a Labour-led government at the next general election, or protect us from the waking nightmare of Prime Minister Nigel Farage.
“It’s vital the Labour government seizes this moment, not in 2029 or a year, or six months time. With the public behind him, progressives imploring them, and the economic case etched in stone, we should signal to the EU – today – that the UK is ready to apply for membership, to take us back to where we belong at the heart of Europe.”
Joe Meighan, Policy Advisor for European Movement UK said: “Andy Burnham is right to put EU membership on the table. We believe Britain would be stronger, safer and more prosperous in the EU, with a full say in the decisions that shape our continent.
“Whatever our future with Europe may look like – people deserve to have the conversation. People who voted Leave deserve respect and an honest assessment of what Brexit has delivered. Reform’s talk of ‘betrayal’ ducks that discussion. If they had belief in their convictions and their arguments, they would be willing to discuss it on its merits.
“If Labour seeks a mandate to pursue EU membership at the next election, voters can accept or reject it. That is democracy. The 2016 result was implemented, but it cannot mean the public is never allowed to choose a different future. When an experiment fails, you take notice of the results.
“At present, Labour have just indicated they will seek to understand, with our partners in the EU, what alternate options may be on the table if we were to pursue a closer relationship. Once we have established that – we simply must engage in the conversation.”
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
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