Will Britain return to the EU? Prime Minister Burnham permits full membership

Andy Burnham included Britain's re-membership in the European Union for the first time as Prime Minister in a catalogue of possible scenarios. He besides assessed that brexit had brought more harm to the country than benefits. However, this does not mean that his government has decided to begin efforts to return to the EU.

Wednesday September 30, the day after the speech at the Labour organization conference in Liverpool, Burnham spoke in the BBC about Britain's future relations with Europe. He mentioned 4 options: leaving the current model, customs union, participation in the single marketplace and full EU membership.

The Prime Minister besides confirmed that he would like to see Britain again in the Union during his lifetime. At the same time, he pointed out that this does not prejudge coming back soon.

Back to the EU was on the table

In a conversation with the programme "Today" at BBC Radio 4 Burnham spoke of respective possible directions.

The United Kingdom can stay in the current cooperation rules. Another anticipation is the customs union which was referred to by erstwhile treasure Chancellor George Osborne. Liberal Democrats in turn propose a return to the single market.

The most far-reaching option is re-enrolment of the Union.

– We can go all the way," Burnham said.

He announced that each script would be assessed for what was feasible and for what benefits and costs. As he said, Britain should yet find what its relation with Europe will look like in the next decade.

It's an crucial change of tone. The discussion is no longer only about mitigating the effects of brexite or concluding further sectoral agreements. Full membership besides emerged among the options under consideration.

The customs union, the single marketplace and membership are 3 different scenarios

The customs union primarily concerns trade in goods. Its participants do not impose duties and apply common tariffs to goods imported from 3rd countries. However, just entering the customs union would not mean returning Britain to all the rules of the single market.

The single marketplace goes much further. It is based on the free movement of goods, services, persons and capital. Any UK participation would so mean talking not only about trade but besides about services, business activities and the movement of workers.

The most far-reaching solution would be to re-enrol the EU. However, specified a return would require a formal accession procedure and agreement with associate States. Consents would require, inter alia, the European Parliament and the Council unanimously, and the Accession Treaty would should be ratified by all parties.

Burnham leaves Labour's earlier position

The Labour organization Manifesto of 2024 explicitly assumed that Britain would stay outside the European Union. Labour besides ruled out a return to the single market, customs union and freedom of movement.

Even in May 2026, while Burnham was seeking a return to parliament, he said that he did not propose to reconsider EU membership.

Now he's moving on. During the Labour conference, he stated that brexit had brought “more harm than benefits” to the UK and announced the presentation of various options for future relations with Europe. He then wants to search an agreement around 1 of them.

The reaction of the opponents was immediate. UK Deputy improvement Leader Richard Tice accused Burnham of trying to bring the country back to the EU with a "back door". This is the UK improvement position, not a description of a decision taken by the government.

Will Britain truly return to the European Union?

The answer to present is no specified decision.

However, what the British government is willing to talk about in public has changed. Full membership, inactive late excluded by Labour, was listed by the Prime Minister alongside the Customs Union and the Single marketplace as 1 of the possibilities to consider.

Burnham announced options for future relations with the EU at the next UK-EU summit. Only later will a solution appear around which the government will effort to build wider support.

The return of Britain to the Union is so not a government policy today. For the first time since the brexit, however, full membership has been among the scenarios that the incumbent Prime Minister wants to debate politically.

Sources: Reuters, Politics.co.uk