UK Prime Minister Burnham Opens Door to Reversing Tory Brexit Damage, Considers Rejoining EU
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham signaled a bold shift, acknowledging the deep harm caused by the Conservative-driven Brexit and suggesting his government may pursue anything from a customs union to full EU membership to repair the UK's relationship with Europe.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed Labour Party members at the annual conference in Liverpool, directly confronting the disastrous legacy of the Conservative-led Brexit settlement, which has inflicted significant social and economic harm on working people across the UK. Burnham emphasized that his government will present options for rebuilding ties with the European Union at a UK-EU summit later this year, including the possibility of a customs union, re-entering the single market, or even full EU membership. He stressed in a BBC interview that each path would be carefully evaluated for its potential to restore rights, protections, and prosperity stripped away by Tory policies.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has previously maintained a cautious approach, ruling out rejoining the EU single market or customs union before the next general election, a position Burnham said would remain until after the vote. Predictably, the Conservative opposition lashed out at Burnham’s openness to reversing their Brexit blunder, with Deputy Leader Alex Burghart attempting to undermine the Prime Minister’s principled stance by questioning his consistency on Brexit issues.