Burnham raises EU options and electoral reform at Labour conference

10 outlets1h agoImportance 4/10

At the Labour conference in Liverpool, Andy Burnham said the party will examine all options for the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union, mentioning discussions that have taken place in Canada and proposals put forward by George Osborne. He also said the party will look at the possibility of changing the voting system used in general elections. Nigel Farage, speaking in Doncaster, said Labour’s position on the EU could influence voter sentiment and noted the potential rise of the Reform Party in the north of England.

The prime minister reiterated the commitment to present options for the country’s future with Brussels. The debate continues over how EU policy and electoral reform might affect party dynamics.

How this was covered

Left-leaning outlets covered this 16h later
Right-leaning coverage is the most divided on this story

Why it matters

Voters are hearing competing visions for the UK’s ties to Europe and how elections are run, which could shape future government composition.

How the sides frame it

LOW AGREEMENT

Left-leaning coverage frames Burnham's EU outreach as a deliberate tactic to curb Farage’s influence and boost progressive pro-EU parties, while centrist coverage highlights the perceived contradiction in Burnham’s reopening of the Brexit debate while blocking a Scottish independence vote. Right-leaning coverage attacks Labour’s EU stance as a political mistake that aids Farage’s Reform Party and labels Burnham a ‘con man’, emphasizing betrayal and backlash.

LEFT

Burnham’s EU rapprochement and electoral reform are presented as a strategy to limit Farage’s power and empower progressive pro-EU parties.

RIGHT

Labour’s EU position is condemned as a massive mistake that fuels Reform Party support and betrays voters.

The left emphasises

Burnham ties EU rapprochement to electoral reform to curb Farage’s influence
Pro-EU parties would gain seats under proportional representation
Sturgeon calls Burnham’s stance a ‘glaring contradiction’

The right emphasises

Farage calls Labour’s EU stance a ‘massive political mistake’
Burnham branded a ‘con man’ for a Brexit U-turn
Tories vow to reverse any moves to unwind Brexit

How this story developed

Sep 3 Richard Tice condemns Chinese imports while Reform UK merch made in China is on sale
Sep 4 National Rally leader Jordan Bardella delivered an English speech at Reform UK’s gathering, emphasizing tighter ties with the British party and joint immigration control.
Sep 4 Reform UK invited Bardella to speak at its Birmingham conference.
Sep 6 West Midlands Police have issued a call for the protester to come forward to assist their inquiry.
Sep 7 The memorandum was signed, moving the idea from conference discussion to a formal agreement.
Sep 18 Liberal Democrat members say the party has stalled since its 2024 election surge and aim to adopt a more aggressive tone at this weekend’s conference.
Sep 22 YouGov's latest seat-by-seat model indicates Reform UK would secure just 123 seats if a general election were called today, a sharp drop from a similar poll a year ago. Labour is forecast to lead with 241 seats, followed by the Conservatives at 130, while the Liberal Democrats hold steady at 71. The results point to the first hung parliament since the 2010 coalition. Reform also appears to be losing its high-profile MPs Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman back to the Conservatives. The party's decline follows recent scandals involving alleged off-the-books polling and the suspension of aides Dan Jukes and James Orr, prompting a Met Police investigation.
Sep 25 A new YouGov poll shows Reform UK level with the Conservatives and behind Labour.
Sep 27 The party has moved from internal frustration to publicly unveiling a health‑and‑economy platform at its conference.
Sep 28 Lee Anderson announced a “whip round” to raise funds for the woman struck with a walking stick.
Sep 30 The new “tough love” policy requires unemployed young people who can work to attend job centres every day and take part in work experience, training or community projects to qualify for a “Get to Work allowance”. After six months without employment, the allowance falls to a subsistence level at 70 % of the previous claim, and those who refuse to join receive no support. Critics, including Amnesty International and the Trussell Trust, argue the measures ignore the difficulties faced by impoverished youth and repeat austerity-era harms. The proposal arrives ahead of the Conservative conference in Birmingham, where youth unemployment remains a prominent issue. A review by former Labour minister Alan Milburn is due later this year.
Oct 1 Nigel Farage warned that Labour leader Keir Burnham's talk of re-joining the EU clashes with his devolution agenda, saying it opens a door for Reform.
Oct 4 The proposal now includes a subsistence allowance at 70 % of the standard Universal Credit rate after six months.
Oct 5 Burnham announced that the party will consider both EU relationship options and electoral system changes.