Labour’s EU Rejoin Debate Resurfaces Amid Leadership Turmoil

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government has pledged to improve EU relations. On 16 May former health secretary Wes Streeting resigned, calling the 2016 Brexit vote “a catastrophic mistake” and urging a special relationship that could lead to EU re-joining. The party has avoided the issue since its 2024 manifesto set customs-union, single-market and free-movement links as red lines.

The Straits Times

Wes Streeting, ex-health secretary, pushes for EU re-entry. Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester mayor, seeks the Makerfield seat and says EU re-join is a long-term case but not a campaign focus. PM Keir Starmer is reluctant to discuss full EU membership. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy warns reopening Brexit wounds would be a mistake. Business Secretary Peter Kyle defends Starmer against dissent.

The Straits Times

Over 90 Labour MPs have called for Starmer’s resignation. A leadership ballot requires 81 MPs; 96 backbenchers demand it. A Survation poll shows Starmer 53 % support, Streeting 23 %, Burnham 61 %. Recent local elections saw Labour lose seats to Reform UK and the Green Party; Makerfield voted decisively for Reform, which would add a ninth MP to the Commons if it wins the by-election.

The Straits Times

Streeting’s office called Brexit a “catastrophic mistake” and said Britain must pursue a special relationship with the EU, eventually re-joining. Burnham told ITV his priority is winning Makerfield and addressing domestic issues, leaving any EU decision for later. Nandy warned that “reopening Brexit wounds” would distract from pragmatic repairs to living-standard damage caused by the “poor Brexit deal”. Kyle cautioned that internal party strife would “plunge the nation into needless instability” and urged focus on a credible delivery plan.

The Guardian

Reform UK has made “Brexit betrayal” a theme of its Makerfield campaign, seeking to exploit Burnham’s EU comments. Party insiders say the soft-left is hesitant to back Streeting, fearing a direct path to Number 10 could alienate grassroots members. Nandy called the renewed EU focus “odd” and diverting attention from pressing economic concerns.

The Guardian

• “We need a new special relationship with the EU because Britain’s future lies with Europe – and one day, back in the European Union.” — Wes Streeting

The Straits Times

• “In the long term, there is a case for that, but I’m not advocating that in this by-election,” — Andy Burnham

The Straits Times

• “But I don’t really understand why the sudden focus on Europe.” — Lisa Nandy, Culture Secretary

The Guardian

• “Voters want ambition, they want boldness, but they want a credible plan for delivering it,” — Peter Kyle, Business Secretary

The Streeting Gamble: Rejoining EU Top Priority in Starmer Challenge

The Labour NEC will endorse a Makerfield candidate by Thursday, with the by-election no earlier than 18 June. A summer UK-EU summit will discuss deeper alignment, and internal polling says any leadership challenge hinges on Streeting converting parliamentary dissent into member support.

The Straits Times