Burnham to make case for closer UK-EU ties in Commons statement
A UK official said the prime minister will argue that stronger ties would win public backing if they help control immigration and support economic growth.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is due to address the House of Commons on 12 October 2026, arguing that Britain should pursue a stronger relationship with the EU, a UK official briefed on his statement said.
The official, speaking anonymously because they lacked authorisation to comment publicly, said Burnham would contend that most people would support closer ties if they helped control immigration and increase economic growth. The official described leaving the relationship unchanged rather than pursuing a growth-supporting agreement as a failure of duty.
At Labour’s annual conference, Burnham said Brexit’s harms had outweighed its benefits. He pledged to present options for Britain’s longer-term relationship with its European partners at the forthcoming UK-EU summit. He later said Labour might put a commitment to a referendum on EU membership in a future manifesto.
The Commons appearance follows Burnham’s claim that Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum. He said he had received a clear answer confirming interference after asking about it on entering Downing Street.
Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty said Russia had repeatedly tried to interfere with British democratic processes but had not succeeded in undermining them. Asked whether the referendum outcome was unsafe, he maintained that the result stood. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage rejected Burnham’s allegation and denied that Russian interference had occurred.
