Burnham backs eventual UK return to EU but rules out move in current parliament
The British prime minister said public support must guide any change and called for practical improvements to the existing relationship.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on 26 October 2026 that he hoped Britain would return to EU membership during his lifetime, while excluding a bid to reverse Brexit during the current parliament.
Burnham said his personal preference would not take precedence over the public’s wishes. For now, he wanted practical changes to improve Britain’s arrangements with the EU rather than a push for membership.
He argued that pledges made during the 2016 referendum campaign remained unfulfilled. In his assessment, the version of Brexit implemented was harder than the one proposed to voters and had damaged both the economy and Britain’s control over immigration.
Burnham has advocated closer EU ties but has not detailed the relationship he wants. Labour’s winning 2024 manifesto, under Keir Starmer, excluded a return to the single market or customs union and ruled out accepting freedom of movement.
His latest comments followed remarks that freedom of movement should remain an option in future talks. A planned UK-EU summit is expected to concentrate on technical adjustments to existing arrangements, rather than broader questions about future relations.
