UK Prime Minister Burnham urges review of EU relationship options, including possible re-entry

Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the BBC that Britain needs to assess various models for its long-term relationship with the European Union and choose the most viable path. He said the country could remain in its current arrangement, consider a customs union as advocated by former Conservative finance minister George Osborne, explore the Liberal Democrats’ proposal to re-enter the single market, or ultimately pursue full membership.

Burnham, who became prime minister in July, said the options should be judged on practicality and their respective benefits and drawbacks. He added that a November UK-EU summit would be used to outline the preferred approach.

"I am very clear, and I will say this bluntly: Brexit has caused more harm than good," Burnham said, emphasizing the need for a decisive response to the post-Brexit challenges.

The prime minister’s remarks follow his earlier comments at the Labour Party conference that the 2016 referendum had “done more harm than good.” He reiterated his personal goal of seeing Britain rejoin the EU within his lifetime, arguing that another decade of uncertainty would be unaffordable.