Overwhelming majority of Labour voters want Andy Burnham to commit to rejoining the EU, poll shows

An overwhelming majority of Labour Party voters want Prime Minister Andy Burnham to include a commitment to rejoining the EU in the party’s next mainfesto , a new poll has found.

The poll, carried out by European Movement UK in partnership with Obsurvant found that nearly three-quarters of Labour voters want a commitment to rejoin the EU.

The public would also vote by nearly two to one, 57 to 30 per cent, to become part of the EU again in another referendum, the survey found.

Interestingly, the polling also found that the desire to include a commitment to rejoin the EU in party manifestos had majority support amongst voters of all major political parties, except amongst Reform voters. Even more Tory party voters supported including a commitment to re-join the EU in the party’s next election manifesto than those who opposed.

The report, which has been seen by the Independent, has cross-party support, including from Conservative peer and former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine, ex-Labour leader Neil Kinnock and the former Lib Dem business secretary Sir Vince Cable, and is being sent to the prime minister.

Lord Heseltine said: “Ten years on since Brexit, this is how we solve our shared global problems.”

Lord Kinnock added: “After 10 years out, 10 years to gain full admission again is sensible. But it could be less because the immovable realities of the continuing damage to our country, of proximity to our largest markets, security needs and political influence could propel stronger awareness of the need for UK membership of the EU on both sides of the Channel.

“It is essential that, in the meantime, the significance of the unpatriotic anti-European parties is flattened so that they are no longer an impediment to trust and progress.”

Burnham has made no secret of his desire to seek closer ties with the EU, telling Labour conference last month that the decision to leave had caused ‘more harm than good’.