Labour figures push for tighter EU ties and a swift Brexit reversal

At Labour's conference in Liverpool, Ed Miliband, the party's foreign secretary, advocated for a more integrated partnership with the European Union, emphasizing cooperation on trade, defence, security and shared values. He framed Europe as more than geography, linking it to climate policy, Middle-East strategy and alliance building. The speech came as senior Labour officials, including London mayor Sadiq Khan and MP Stella Creasy, intensified calls on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to begin the process of reversing Brexit.

Khan suggested the UK should rejoin the EU customs union now, pursue associate status, and later seek full membership without a second referendum. Creasy warned that the next six months are pivotal and urged Burnham to use a future election manifesto as a mandate for re-entry. The party remains divided, with Burnham refusing to rule out a manifesto pledge but leaving the timing open.