Burnham Opens Door to UK Rejoining EU, Saying 'All Options' on the Table

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has signalled that Britain could eventually move back towards European Union membership, describing rejoining the bloc as one of the options his government may examine. In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Burnham said the country needed a clear, long-term answer to the question of its relationship with Brussels.

The comments came just a day after he delivered his first speech as prime minister to the Labour Party conference on Tuesday, a milestone appearance that set out his broader political vision. Speaking the following morning, Burnham suggested that the debate over Europe has been left unresolved for too long and that his government would attempt to build a national consensus on the way forward.

"There are clearly options that need to be considered, and we have to look at what is doable and what would be the pros and cons of each," Burnham told the programme, indicating that no single path has been ruled out at this stage.

Pressed on what those options might involve, the prime minister said the current settlement remains a legitimate choice. Britain could stay exactly where it is, he explained, if that is what people believe is the right place for the country to remain.

But his remarks went considerably further than a simple restatement of the status quo. Burnham acknowledged that the full spectrum of possibilities, including a return to EU membership, would need to be assessed, a position that is likely to reignite one of the most divisive arguments in modern British politics.

The prime minister framed his approach around the idea of finding consensus, arguing that the country needs to settle on one option rather than drift indefinitely between competing visions. That language suggests a deliberate attempt to lower the temperature on an issue that has fractured both major parties since the 2016 referendum.

His stated method is pragmatic rather than ideological. By talking about what is "doable" and weighing the pros and cons of each route, Burnham appears to be positioning himself as a leader who wants an evidence-led conversation rather than a repeat of the emotive campaigning that defined the Brexit years.

The reference to going "all the way" towards rejoining the EU implies a graded set of possibilities rather than a binary choice. In practice, that could encompass anything from maintaining the current trade arrangement to negotiating closer alignment and, at the furthest end, full membership.

Each of those options carries substantial political and economic consequences. Full membership would mean accepting freedom of movement, contributions to the EU budget and adherence to European rules, all of which remain deeply sensitive in British politics nearly a decade after the vote to leave.

Even intermediate steps would require difficult negotiations with Brussels and would likely face resistance from those who view any closer alignment as a betrayal of the referendum result. Burnham's willingness to name rejoining as a live option is therefore significant in itself, regardless of whether it ever becomes policy.

The timing of the intervention adds to its weight. Coming immediately after his first conference speech as prime minister, it signals that Europe will not be a subject his government avoids, and that he is prepared to spend political capital on reopening a question many in Westminster had hoped to shelve.

His emphasis on consensus also reflects the reality that any durable settlement on Europe would need to survive changes of government. A decision taken narrowly, or imposed by one party alone, would be vulnerable to reversal, whereas a broadly supported position could endure.

For businesses, the prospect of a clearer long-term framework will be welcome after years of uncertainty over trading rules, border checks and regulatory divergence. Many firms have consistently argued that the current arrangement imposes costs and friction that harm competitiveness.

For voters, however, the issue remains emotionally charged. Polling over recent years has shown a modest shift in public opinion towards viewing Brexit as a mistake, but it has also shown little appetite for another prolonged period of constitutional argument.

Burnham's remarks are likely to prompt immediate scrutiny from opposition parties, who will want to know whether he is preparing a concrete plan or simply keeping his options open. His phrasing, which stressed consideration and consultation rather than commitment, leaves room for both interpretations.

The prime minister did not announce any timetable, review or formal process for examining the alternatives. Instead, he described a set of choices that need to be looked at, leaving the practical mechanics of any future decision deliberately vague.

What is now clear is that the debate over Britain's place in Europe has been formally reopened at the highest level of government. Whether it leads to a new settlement, a prolonged national conversation, or simply a restatement of the existing position, Burnham has ensured the question will remain on the political agenda for the months ahead.