Burnham keeps EU rejoining on the table, says Brexit has done more harm than good

Pinned summary · as of 17:48

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has refused to rule out Britain returning to the European Union, saying full membership is one of several paths his government should study. In a BBC interview on Wednesday, 30 September, he judged Brexit a net loss for the country, and he plans to lay out the choices at a UK-EU summit later this year.

What we know

• Mr Burnham said a return to the EU should be studied alongside other possible models for Britain's long-term ties with the bloc, and he did not dismiss membership when asked about it directly.
• He described Brexit as having done “more harm than good”.
• Besides full membership, the Prime Minister listed a customs union and a move towards the single market as possibilities, and said leaving things unchanged also remains open if people think that is the right place to stay.
• Put the question of rejoining to him directly, Mr Burnham answered that his aim was to “look at the options”.
• Mr Burnham said he will bring different options for the future relationship to a UK-EU summit planned for later in the year.
• In its 2024 general election platform, Labour pledged to make a success of Brexit and excluded any return to the customs union or single market.
• The Conservatives countered that Brexit should not be made the scapegoat for Britain's economic troubles.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

• ?
  Conservative Deputy Leader Alex Burghart accused Labour of steering Britain back into the EU by the back door through its reset with Brussels, as reported by The Vaultz News; this is a political charge, not an established fact.
• ?
  The Ghana Report reported that the Conservatives also accused Mr Burnham of reopening the old Brexit divisions, a claim made only by his opponents.
• ?
  The Vaultz News reported that the Prime Minister has made no pledge to take Britain back in and wants the alternatives tested first for feasibility and consequences. It added that he has previously backed rejoining within his lifetime, without saying this is government policy. Other reports have not repeated these details.
• ?
  The Ghana Report said French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez both reacted positively to the idea of Britain moving closer to the EU; this has not been confirmed by other reports.
• ?
  The Ghana Report said Mr Burnham hopes to agree a clear direction for the next ten years, which could feature in the next general election campaign; this was not reported elsewhere.

Why it matters for Ghana

Britain is home to a large Ghanaian community, and its trading and migration rules with Europe affect remittances, students and workers who travel between the two countries. Ghanaian exporters of cocoa and other goods also sell into European markets, so any shift in the UK's trade stance could reshape the terms they deal with. No change has been decided, but the debate will shape how Britain deals with its neighbours in the years ahead.