PM warns rejecting deeper EU ties would betray national duty
Prime Minister Andy Burnham will tell the Commons that turning down a closer relationship with the EU would be a dereliction of duty.
In a forthcoming Commons speech, Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to label the rejection of any deeper EU partnership as a dereliction of duty. He will contend that Brexit has damaged the UK, weakening immigration control and economic performance, and that the status quo cannot serve Britain’s interests. Burnham aims to secure a revised arrangement at the rescheduled UK-EU summit, arguing it would help tackle illegal migration and boost growth, with public support he believes is overwhelming.
He previously pledged to explore closer ties at a UK-EU summit later this year and hinted at a possible future referendum in a Labour manifesto. The summit was delayed after Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation and will now take place next month. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised any reopening of the Brexit debate as a waste of time and harmful to business confidence.
Why it matters
The stance could reshape the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with Europe and affect immigration and economic policy.
How this story developed
- Sep 29 Andy Burnham signals possible UK return to the EU after condemning Brexit
- Sep 29 Labour leader Andy Burnham delivered his first conference speech, unveiling policy proposals on public ownership, pensions, and electoral reform.
- Sep 30 The Prime Minister now says re‑joining the EU is among the options the government will consider.
- Sep 30 Burnham signaled that full EU membership is among the possible routes Labour could evaluate.
- Oct 3 A new poll shows half of British adults now support rejoining the EU.
- Oct 4 Kemi Badenoch opened the Conservative conference by framing the Tories as a common-sense party, unveiling pledges on tighter welfare, prison expansion and free childcare for high-earning families.
- Oct 5 Badenoch pushed to drop the £100,000 childcare tax cap at the conference.
- Oct 6 Announced a cut to employer National Insurance for 21‑ to 24‑year‑olds from 15% to 7.5%.
- Oct 7 Badenoch announced a defence spending target of 3% of GDP.
- Oct 8 Badenoch denounced Reform UK as ethnically exclusive at the conference.
- Oct 8 Burnham announced that the pension triple‑lock will be scrapped after the next general election and its savings will fund a National Care Service.
- Oct 11 Andy Burnham told a podcast that he was confirmed Russia meddled in the 2016 Brexit vote and used the comment to signal a possible push for the UK to rejoin the EU.
- Oct 11 Burnham has moved from acknowledging past interference to proposing an EU re‑entry option in the Labour platform.
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