Burnham Says EU Referendum 'Possible' in Future Labour Manifesto

Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the BBC on Sept. 30 that a future Labour election manifesto could "possibly" include a new in-out referendum on European Union membership, days after telling his party's conference he would pursue closer ties with the bloc at a summit later this year, according to the BBC.

In the interview with BBC political editor Chris Mason, Burnham said a referendum "wouldn't be the right thing to do right now" but argued the UK "needed to consider the options" for its relationship with Brussels because "where we are isn't good enough," the BBC reported.

What did Burnham tell the BBC?

Asked directly whether an in-out referendum could appear in a future Labour manifesto, Burnham replied: "Yes, things are possible. I think where we are isn't good enough," according to the BBC transcript. He framed the remark inside a broader "10-year plan for Britain," saying the country needs to weigh its long-term relationship with the EU "way before you even get to anything that's put before the public."

Earlier the same day, on BBC Radio 4's Today program, Burnham was asked if he personally wants the UK to rejoin the EU. He said he wanted to "look at the options" and added that he had previously backed rejoining within his own lifetime, while acknowledging "it's not necessarily the case that that is now," per the BBC.

What options is Labour weighing for UK-EU ties?

Burnham laid out three broad paths, according to the BBC: keeping Britain's relationship with the EU "exactly as we are," pursuing a closer arrangement similar to the one under discussion between the EU and Canada, or rejoining the EU customs union. He stopped short of endorsing any single option, telling Mason that moving straight to "a proposal and a referendum on it wouldn't be the right thing to do right now."

The comments follow Burnham's Labour conference speech on Sept. 29, in which he pledged to explore closer EU ties ahead of a summit later this year, the BBC reported.

How does this square with his by-election promise?

Burnham was pressed on an apparent shift from commitments he made during the Makerfield by-election campaign that returned him to Parliament. As a candidate in that race, he had promised not to "re-run" Brexit arguments and said explicitly he was "not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU," according to the BBC. Challenged on the contradiction, Burnham told Mason: "No, I'm not proposing that, am I?" and repeated that his current comments concern only which "broad options" Britain should examine, not a formal policy to rejoin.

How have opposition parties responded?

The Conservatives accused Burnham of trying to "reopen old wounds by restarting the battles of the Brexit years," the BBC reported, though the party's full statement was not detailed beyond that line.

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice accused Burnham of "trying," according to the BBC's report, which did not include the remainder of his quoted remarks.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said his party has already put forward "concrete plans to boost our economy, strengthen our defences and cut people's taxes by joining the single market and a customs union," per the BBC, and said of Burnham: "Talk is cheap. Burnham must stop with all the 'maybes' and get negotiating that better deal for Britain today." The Lib Dems had separately promised tax cuts for millions if the UK rejoins the EU single market, the BBC noted, citing coverage from Sept. 22.

The Lib Dems' Europe spokesperson, Al Pinkerton, said last week there is "no rejoin on the table," adding that Britain would effectively be treated as a "fresh entrant state" if it sought EU membership again, according to the BBC.

What have European leaders said about a UK return?

French President Emmanuel Macron said it would be "very good news" if the UK wanted to rejoin the EU, the BBC reported. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his country would welcome Britain back "with open arms," according to the same BBC account. Neither leader's comments were tied to a specific timetable or formal EU position on reaccession terms in the material provided.

Burnham's remarks leave Labour's formal position unresolved heading into the party's planned EU summit later this year, with the prime minister declining to commit to — or rule out — a referendum pledge in the next general election manifesto. The BBC noted the stance could become a dividing line in that election, given the Conservatives' and Reform UK's objections and the Liberal Democrats' push for a faster, more concrete negotiating position.

For now, Burnham's public position rests on three words repeated in the BBC interview: the UK needs to "consider the options," without committing to which option, or to a public vote on it, Downing Street has yet to clarify beyond his on-air remarks.