Andy Burnham has said rejoining the European Union is among the options his government could look at to reshape the UK’s long-term relationship with Europe.
During his Labour conference speech on Tuesday, the prime minister said Brexit had caused “more harm than good” and he would look for a new consensus on what Britain’s relationship with the EU should be.
He told the conference: “We will not give Britain the clear path we need into the rest of this century until we decide on a long term relationship with what is still our largest market.
“I cannot say to you truthfully that where we are is good enough. Brexit has done more harm than good.”
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Burnham went on to say that at a UK-EU summit later this year he would “lay out to the country what I believe the different options are for Britain’s long term relationship with our European partners.”
This seemed to hint at the possibility that Brexit could be reversed in some form or another.
All options on the table on EU relationship – including ‘going all the way’
Now, Burnham has seemed to confirm that rejoining the EU is an option he and his government will consider.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the Labour leader said he wanted to be clear on “where we want Britain to go in the next decade”.
When he was asked if he wanted the UK to rejoin the EU, something he regularly called for before becoming prime minister, Burnham said he wanted to “look at the options.”
He continued: “We could stay as we are. That’s definitely an option, if people think this is the right place to stay.”
“We could look at what George Osborne has said about a customs union, we could look at what the Liberal Democrats said at their conference about the single market, or we could go all the way.
“So there are clearly options that need to be considered, and we have to look at what is doable and what would be the pros and cons of each.”
But the PM made clear his main aim was to stop the matter of the EU “hanging” over the country.
“I am saying, let’s be clear about where we want Britain to go in the next decade,” he said. “The country cannot have another decade like the one we’ve just had, where we’ve had too much drift, too much division.
“I am very clear, and I will say this bluntly, Brexit has done more harm than good.”
Momentum growing behind reversing Brexit
His comments come after chat about rejoining the EU has gathered momentum in recent months and weeks.
Numerous studies and polls continue to lay bare the devastating economic impact leaving the EU has had on Britain and the dramatic shift in public opinion on Brexit.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has called for Labour to put a pledge to rejoin the EU on the party’s next manifesto, an idea Burnham is reportedly edging closer to.
Former prime minister and Labour leader Tony Blair has also recently called for Burnham to put EU membership at the centre of his 10-year plan for Britain.