UK prime minister opens debate on closer EU ties, including membership

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has opened the possibility of Britain eventually rejoining the European Union, saying ministers will examine the range of options for the country’s long-term relationship with Brussels. Burnham said the government could retain current arrangements, seek a customs union, return to the single market or “go all the way” towards full EU membership. He told broadcasters that ministers would consider what was practical and assess the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

The position represents a change from Labour’s 2024 election manifesto, which ruled out returning to the EU single market or customs union and rejected restoring freedom of movement. Burnham has not set out a timetable or specific policy for rejoining. A customs union would bring the UK closer to the EU on trade in goods by applying common tariffs to imports from outside the bloc.

It would not, by itself, restore full single-market membership or eliminate every border check. Rejoining the single market would require closer alignment with EU rules. Burnham said Britain needed to decide its long-term relationship with its largest trading partner and argued that Brexit had caused more harm than good.

He plans to outline the choices around a UK-EU summit expected in November. The summit was originally scheduled for July under former prime minister Keir Starmer but was postponed after his resignation. The UK will participate in the Erasmus Plus scheme again in 2027.

The EU has also authorised talks on closer electricity-market links, while discussions on food trade and youth mobility remain under way. Burnham said the summit would also consider cooperation on migration.