French finance minister Roland Lescure has called for Britain to “come all the way back” to the European Union as momentum continues to grow around Brexit being reversed.
Speaking to the BBC, Lescure was asked about comments from Andy Burnham last week where he said a second referendum on EU membership could be included in the next Labour manifesto.
Responding to this, Lescure said: “Come all the way. I’m a true Europhile and I’m a true Anglophile, and for me Britain leaving the EU was very sad.
“British people decided, and that’s obviously their 100% right, and if they’re willing to come back, they will have to decide.”
He added: “But what I can tell them is: come back, anytime.”
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Lescure acknowledged that there were some difficulties around being in the bloc but that it was needed in the current climate for members to better address the challenges facing the world.
Last week, French president Emmanuel Macron and Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez both said they would welcome the UK back into the EU, with Macron labelling Brexit the “biggest lie of the last 30 years.”
This came after Burnham had openly stated that a full reversal of Brexit was one of the options he would consider as part of a reset of Britain’s long term relationship with Europe.
The prime minister has also repeatedly spoken in recent days about the harm Brexit has done to the UK, saying it has “done more harm than good.”
Speaking in Berlin on Thursday, Burnham reiterated his desire for closer ties with the EU as well, telling German chancellor Friedrich Merz that he is “very committed to deeper cooperation” and wanting to “bring the UK closer to Europe.”
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.