Burnham says returning to EU remains among options for UK relationship

Andy Burnham has said rejoining the European Union remains one of the options being considered in a debate over the United Kingdom’s future relationship with Europe. Speaking to the BBC’s Today programme, Burnham said the UK could retain its current arrangements, pursue a customs union, seek a relationship involving the single market or “go all the way” towards rejoining the EU. He said each possibility would need to be assessed for practicality and consequences.

Burnham added that the question was whether the existing relationship was the right place for the UK to remain. His comments followed a speech in which he told Labour delegates he would examine ways to establish a better relationship with the EU. The supplied Guardian report described the speech as consequential and said it had prompted considerable discussion.

Burnham referred to proposals associated with former Conservative chancellor George Osborne on a customs union and to Liberal Democrat arguments for closer single-market ties. He did not endorse a specific option in the interview. The remarks came as the Labour conference concluded.

Attention was focused on the implications of Prime Minister-level discussion about the UK’s future relationship with Europe, according to the source material. The conference’s final day included speeches by Environment Secretary Angela Eagle, Health Secretary Yvette Cooper, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Deputy Labour Leader Lucy Powell. Burnham said the options should be examined according to what was achievable and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

The supplied material did not state that the government had adopted a policy of seeking EU re-entry.