Andy Burnham has refused to rule out a pledge to rejoin the EU in a future Labour manifesto.
The Prime Minister said questions about EU membership were “for another day”, insisting he was focused on this year’s summit with Brussels.
Senior Labour figures, including Wes Streeting, the Defence Secretary, have suggested that Labour should consider rejoining the customs union in order to boost economic growth.
Mr Burnham has also said he would like to see Britain re-enter the bloc in his lifetime, but promised not to “rerun” the arguments of the 2016 referendum after he took office in July.
He declined to rule out a manifesto commitment to rejoin the EU at the next election while he was on his way to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Probably going to end up with the same deal Canada got. As long as it works in our favour who cares.
GhostsOfTheRobotTree on
He’d be a fool to rule it out which also doesn’t mean it is going to happen.
I believe they’ll rejoin in some capacity, but it’ll be nowhere near the perks they had previously.
stuntondeezh0es on
Brentry
GazelleDelicious3135 on
Well considering reform and Farrage are now calling for a “proper Brexit”, it’s now even more clear than it was in 2016 that it was all a load of bullshit. All just a get rich scheme for the already rich. Immigration has grown massively because of Brexit and they are now using that as a pretext to get more votes.
Let us rejoin. Should have never left.
Zardoz_Wearing_Pants on
Ragebait, my my, we are looking desperate.
Of course he does. everyone but the ones that forced it through in the first place, now knows it’s was one of the worst examples of fraud and manipulation of the people in the history of modern United Kingdom. Your headline tells anyone left in that majority, where your loyalty lies.
DireCrimson on
Good. Great even. Finally some good news from the absolute rag that the Telegraph is.
MyCodenameIsIan on
There is a lot of public support for rejoining but that support collapses without the UK getting all the exceptions they previously had.
The pace of negotiations we probably won’t see any movement on this for atleast a decade.
thermuda on
Good. It’s been obvious Brexit has been a farce and was run on lies but we did what the public wanted.
Democracy can change its mind again and we can opt to rejoin in some capacity but I feel that this would be an issue that needs to be tread carefully around as I could see the old rhetoric coming back again more strongly than before with what the UK is currently facing
Juul1104 on
To be fair this is also the British PM that has a 10-year plan, assuming he actually stays on that long, both British opinions and the economic situation are gonna be very different in ten years that fully ruling it out could bite him in the ass later
bsnimunf on
Makes sense. It works both ways. If being a member and leaving was always up for review with referendums then it makes sense that if public opinion changes we should consider attempting to rejoin.
Rightsidebestside on
I have serious doubts, that UK would be willing to join EU, without all the special exempts that they enjoyed in their last venture. Even then they were constantly whining about many things.
JoeAintDead on
I am British. I was born a European citizen and I will die a European citizen!
“Alle Menschen werden Brüder”
deevo82 on
He’s like a broken record parroting “for another day” for constitutional issues.
Nitrogenflux on
We are facing a third global war the uk should try and join the EU again. Europeans “well we don’t want you having any of the nice things you had before, that will teach you”…. meanwhile Russian tanks rumble
albeva on
If the UK were to rejoin the EU, would that mean adopting the euro and joining Schengen this time?
Hyperion577 on
Good, next.
GergDanger on
Why would he rule it out completely? That doesn’t really mean anything as to what will actually happen.
But we can hope they do rejoin or at least strengthen their relationship.
iamevilhomer75 on
Good. We should not have left.
Zardoz84 on
Please, not. Clean your mess before carring it to Europe.
ParanoiaAndroia on
As a EU citizen, having lived in the UK for 15 years, pre-Brexit (married, kids, house, job…) but then moved abroad without having a definite return date (if ever), staying there for years – then Brexit happened, my divorce happened – didn’t really think of returning then with my life in shatters – and when I did it was too late to have any return rights. Maybe one day I can return, I would love to. I made sure my kids kept my EU citizenship alongside being Brits. At least I made that happen.
HatefulHaggis on
Here comes the bluster and lies to avoid any upset with the other 3 countries and all these talks of independence, etc, etc.
Lie through your teeth until the public buy it enough that they believe your bullshit. Then turn around and do the exact opposite once your worst case scenario has disappeared.
Kremsi2711 on
The UK is part of Europe and is invited to join the EU
Jiminy-Bob on
Poll on the that very page has 83% against rejoining the EU from 30K votes. 😐
Scomosuckseggs on
The correct approach around the Brexit question is to work with the EU, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, etc. on defining this new associate member status offered to Canada and making that an ‘outer EU’ treaty of sorts, with the option to work towards full EU status over the coming years. I am not proposing a situation whereby the UK, Canada, etc get all the perks and none of the downsides; i envision rather an approach that provides proportional benefit and access to one another’s countries on areas everyone agrees upon.
This therefore wont be the UK ‘rejoining the EU’, rather, it would the UK joining new treaty with other non-eu nations and the EU. The brexiteers cant be bitching then, and in a few years when most of the horrible sods have died out, the transition towards full EU status can be realised if the population supports it.
healeyd on
Single Market/EEA only like the Swiss makes the most sense for the UK.
steinbruchfluss on
Yes, the UK was the EU member with the most exemptions. Even after rejoining, they will still have the most exemptions.
Why? Because almost all of the exemptions were related to their overseas territories.
The only relevant issue, I think, would be the euro, but look at Sweden. If you don’t want to adopt the euro, simply don’t apply for it, even if you theoretically have to.
DamnIamHigh_Original on
Can they please stay out? Omgggg
TheKingOfSpite on
I mean it would save me having to marry my friend just to get back into the Schengen zone.
From a national perspective obviously being in the Union has many benefits, but to me – just a guy- freedom of movement is literally the most important thing
29 Comments
**The Telegraph reports:**
Andy Burnham has refused to rule out a pledge to rejoin the EU in a future Labour manifesto.
The Prime Minister said questions about EU membership were “for another day”, insisting he was focused on this year’s summit with Brussels.
Senior Labour figures, including Wes Streeting, the Defence Secretary, have suggested that Labour should consider rejoining the customs union in order to boost economic growth.
Mr Burnham has also said he would like to see Britain re-enter the bloc in his lifetime, but promised not to “rerun” the arguments of the 2016 referendum after he took office in July.
He declined to rule out a manifesto commitment to rejoin the EU at the next election while he was on his way to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
**Full story:** [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/09/22/andy-burnham-refuses-rule-out-rejoining-eu-brussels/](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/09/22/andy-burnham-refuses-rule-out-rejoining-eu-brussels/?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_reddit_rule-out-rejoining-eu-brussels/&accesscontrol=facebookchannel_open)
Probably going to end up with the same deal Canada got. As long as it works in our favour who cares.
He’d be a fool to rule it out which also doesn’t mean it is going to happen.
I believe they’ll rejoin in some capacity, but it’ll be nowhere near the perks they had previously.
Brentry
Well considering reform and Farrage are now calling for a “proper Brexit”, it’s now even more clear than it was in 2016 that it was all a load of bullshit. All just a get rich scheme for the already rich. Immigration has grown massively because of Brexit and they are now using that as a pretext to get more votes.
Let us rejoin. Should have never left.
Ragebait, my my, we are looking desperate.
Of course he does. everyone but the ones that forced it through in the first place, now knows it’s was one of the worst examples of fraud and manipulation of the people in the history of modern United Kingdom. Your headline tells anyone left in that majority, where your loyalty lies.
Good. Great even. Finally some good news from the absolute rag that the Telegraph is.
There is a lot of public support for rejoining but that support collapses without the UK getting all the exceptions they previously had.
The pace of negotiations we probably won’t see any movement on this for atleast a decade.
Good. It’s been obvious Brexit has been a farce and was run on lies but we did what the public wanted.
Democracy can change its mind again and we can opt to rejoin in some capacity but I feel that this would be an issue that needs to be tread carefully around as I could see the old rhetoric coming back again more strongly than before with what the UK is currently facing
To be fair this is also the British PM that has a 10-year plan, assuming he actually stays on that long, both British opinions and the economic situation are gonna be very different in ten years that fully ruling it out could bite him in the ass later
Makes sense. It works both ways. If being a member and leaving was always up for review with referendums then it makes sense that if public opinion changes we should consider attempting to rejoin.
I have serious doubts, that UK would be willing to join EU, without all the special exempts that they enjoyed in their last venture. Even then they were constantly whining about many things.
I am British. I was born a European citizen and I will die a European citizen!
“Alle Menschen werden Brüder”
He’s like a broken record parroting “for another day” for constitutional issues.
We are facing a third global war the uk should try and join the EU again. Europeans “well we don’t want you having any of the nice things you had before, that will teach you”…. meanwhile Russian tanks rumble
If the UK were to rejoin the EU, would that mean adopting the euro and joining Schengen this time?
Good, next.
Why would he rule it out completely? That doesn’t really mean anything as to what will actually happen.
But we can hope they do rejoin or at least strengthen their relationship.
Good. We should not have left.
Please, not. Clean your mess before carring it to Europe.
As a EU citizen, having lived in the UK for 15 years, pre-Brexit (married, kids, house, job…) but then moved abroad without having a definite return date (if ever), staying there for years – then Brexit happened, my divorce happened – didn’t really think of returning then with my life in shatters – and when I did it was too late to have any return rights. Maybe one day I can return, I would love to. I made sure my kids kept my EU citizenship alongside being Brits. At least I made that happen.
Here comes the bluster and lies to avoid any upset with the other 3 countries and all these talks of independence, etc, etc.
Lie through your teeth until the public buy it enough that they believe your bullshit. Then turn around and do the exact opposite once your worst case scenario has disappeared.
The UK is part of Europe and is invited to join the EU
Poll on the that very page has 83% against rejoining the EU from 30K votes. 😐
The correct approach around the Brexit question is to work with the EU, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, etc. on defining this new associate member status offered to Canada and making that an ‘outer EU’ treaty of sorts, with the option to work towards full EU status over the coming years. I am not proposing a situation whereby the UK, Canada, etc get all the perks and none of the downsides; i envision rather an approach that provides proportional benefit and access to one another’s countries on areas everyone agrees upon.
This therefore wont be the UK ‘rejoining the EU’, rather, it would the UK joining new treaty with other non-eu nations and the EU. The brexiteers cant be bitching then, and in a few years when most of the horrible sods have died out, the transition towards full EU status can be realised if the population supports it.
Single Market/EEA only like the Swiss makes the most sense for the UK.
Yes, the UK was the EU member with the most exemptions. Even after rejoining, they will still have the most exemptions.
Why? Because almost all of the exemptions were related to their overseas territories.
The only relevant issue, I think, would be the euro, but look at Sweden. If you don’t want to adopt the euro, simply don’t apply for it, even if you theoretically have to.
Can they please stay out? Omgggg
I mean it would save me having to marry my friend just to get back into the Schengen zone.
From a national perspective obviously being in the Union has many benefits, but to me – just a guy- freedom of movement is literally the most important thing