UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham declined to rule out including a pledge to rejoin the European Union in Labour’s next election manifesto. He made the remark to reporters on September 22, while traveling to the United Nations General Assembly. It has reopened the UK rejoin EU debate at a moment when Burnham’s government is trying to project stability heading into this year’s Labour Party conference.
Reporters asked directly whether he could exclude an EU-rejoin commitment from the party’s platform. Burnham said the question was “for another day,” according to Euronews. He steered the conversation instead toward his government’s efforts to rebuild ties with Brussels through diplomatic channels already underway.
What Burnham actually said to reopen the UK rejoin EU debate
Burnham told reporters his “immediate priority” was to “build on the good work that Keir did in rebuilding bridges” with the EU. He wants to reach a “practical agreement that will further boost the British economy,” a reference to his predecessor’s efforts to repair post-Brexit relations. He stopped well short of endorsing a formal rejoin campaign. But his refusal to rule it out was enough to restart a debate many in his own party had hoped to leave behind.
The comments were notable given Burnham’s own history on the issue. He has previously spoken in favor of the UK rejoining the EU. He moderated that position during his leadership campaign earlier in 2026, telling supporters at the time that “the last thing we should do right now is rerun those arguments.”
Why this is politically dangerous for Labour
Opposition leaders moved quickly to frame Burnham’s comments as a return to Brexit-era hostilities. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch warned that Labour risked “restarting the Brexit wars.” Reform UK’s Richard Tice went further, calling a potential rejoin debate “a new Battle of Britain.”
Within Labour itself, senior figures have not been unanimous on how forcefully to raise the subject. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has previously called Brexit “catastrophic,” reflecting a wing of the party more comfortable revisiting the question. Others have urged caution after Labour’s disappointing results in local elections in May 2026. Some in the party blamed those results partly on unresolved arguments over Britain’s relationship with Europe.
The Labour conference backdrop
CNN’s coverage of Labour’s party conference this week described Burnham as riding high politically, even as “tough choices” loom on multiple fronts. The EU question adds another difficult decision to that list. Raising it energizes a segment of Labour’s base that never accepted Brexit. But it also risks alienating voters in areas where opposition to EU membership remains strong.
What Burnham does next
Burnham has signaled that any substantive move on EU membership would follow, not precede, the outcome of ongoing UK-EU summit talks aimed at practical economic cooperation. That sequencing gives him room to defer a firm answer on the manifesto question for now. But the issue is unlikely to disappear before Labour finalizes its platform ahead of the next general election.
What it would take to actually rejoin
Even if Labour did commit to a rejoin pledge, the path back into the EU would be long. It would involve a fresh accession process, renewed negotiations over the terms of membership, and almost certainly another public vote, given how the original Brexit referendum was decided. None of that groundwork has begun. That is part of why Burnham’s critics argue raising the question now is premature at best. Even sympathetic voices within Labour have acknowledged that a rejoin campaign would consume years of political capital and diplomatic effort. The government is already juggling economic pressures and a demanding legislative agenda closer to home.
What the EU rejoin debate means — answered
Did Andy Burnham commit to rejoining the EU?
No. He declined to rule out a rejoin pledge in Labour’s next manifesto. But he stopped short of endorsing the idea, saying the question was “for another day.”
When did Burnham make these comments?
He spoke to reporters on September 22, 2026, while traveling to the United Nations General Assembly.
What has Burnham said about the EU in the past?
He previously supported the UK rejoining the EU. He moderated that stance during his 2026 leadership campaign, saying at the time that rerunning Brexit arguments was “the last thing we should do.”
How have opposition parties reacted?
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch warned of “restarting the Brexit wars,” and Reform UK’s Richard Tice called a potential debate “a new Battle of Britain.”
Is Labour united on this issue?
No. Some senior figures, including Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, have previously called Brexit “catastrophic.” Others have urged caution after Labour’s setbacks in May 2026 local elections.
What would it actually take for the UK to rejoin the EU?
It would require a full accession process, fresh negotiations over membership terms, and very likely another public referendum, none of which has begun.
More on UK and EU relations
- The UK’s HC 584 immigration rule changes
- European interior ministers meet on border returns
- UK Companies House identity verification deadline
Where this reporting comes from
- Euronews — British prime minister Burnham declines to rule out rejoining EU. euronews.com
- CNN — Andy Burnham is on a high. When will he fall to earth? cnn.com
