Burnham Reopens the Brexit Debate, Calls for Closer Ties with the EU

Prime Minister Andy Burnham marked his 100th day in office by breaking a decade-long convention that British leaders avoid discussing a reversal of the 2016 EU referendum. Burnham argued that the current arrangement has weakened immigration control because the UK no longer accesses EU databases and agreements.

The Independent

The 2016 vote left the EU by a 52%-to-48% margin after four decades of membership. The UK formally exited in 2020 under a “bare-bones” trade deal that introduced new barriers with a market of 450 million people. Most economists agree that Brexit has hurt the British economy, though few politicians have attempted to revisit the issue. Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, pledged not to re-enter the EU’s tariff-free customs union or single market, a stance Burnham says could change after the next national election, due by 2029.

The Independent

Burnham told the Sunday Times, “I am positive about closer ties with Europe and I’m not hiding that,” and added on ITV that “the truth of the matter is we’ve lost immigration control in the way that we once had.” He announced that the government will present a range of long-term relationship options to the public and that informal talks are already under way in Brussels. The upcoming UK-EU summit in November will focus on a limited “reset,” covering food-and-drink trade, energy, emissions trading, and short-term work opportunities for young people.

The Independent

Anti-immigration campaigner Nigel Farage argued that Burnham “has no mandate” to renegotiate Brexit. Trade expert David Henig noted that the biggest hurdle is domestic political support, not negotiations in Brussels.

The Independent

The government plans to release a detailed set of options for the UK-EU relationship and to hold a public consultation before the November summit. Success will depend on securing consensus within Labour, the broader cabinet, and the electorate.

The Independent