Germany pledges support if Britain pursues a second EU membership referendum

At the Labour Party conference, Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggested a new referendum on EU membership, arguing that a ten-year plan for Britain must address Europe. In response, German ambassador Susanne Baumann told the press that the United Kingdom is an integral part of Europe and that Germany would be a partner in any effort to re-enter the EU. French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Irish minister Neale Richmond also voiced support for a possible UK return, describing Brexit as a mistake.

Critics, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and think-tank analyst Julian Jessop, warned that a second referendum could spark severe political division and economic uncertainty. Investment banker Simon French noted that prolonged uncertainty has already hurt business investment, and officials reminded that any re-entry would require the UK to meet the same accession criteria as other candidate states.