Andy Burnham: UK could ‘go all the way’ by rejoining EU
PM says he is looking at all options and ministers will examine ‘what is doable’ and the ‘pros and cons’
Spots 
Andy Burnham has opened the door to the
Andy Burnham has opened the door to the UK rejoining the EU, saying Britain could “go all the way”, as he prepares to reconsider Labour’s post-Brexit red lines.
The prime minister used a series of interviews
The prime minister used a series of interviews after his emotional Labour conference speech to spell out how wide-ranging his consideration of Britain’s future with Brussels could be because Brexit had caused “more harm than good”.
Burnham said the government could keep the current
Burnham said the government could keep the current arrangements, seek a customs union, return to the single market or “go all the way” in what would be full EU membership. Speaking to the BBC, he said ministers would examine “what is doable” and the “pros and cons” of each option.
Asked whether he wanted the UK to rejoin
Asked whether he wanted the UK to rejoin the bloc, the prime minister told Radio 4’s Today programme he wanted to “look at the options”. He added: “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.”
It is a significant shift from the position
It is a significant shift from the position Labour fought the 2024 election on. Its manifesto explicitly ruled out returning to the EU single market or customs union, as well as restoring freedom of movement.
A customs union would bring Britain much closer
A customs union would bring Britain much closer to the EU on trade in goods. The UK and EU would apply the same tariffs to imports from elsewhere, removing trade barriers businesses have faced after Brexit. But it would not on its own put Britain back inside the wider single market or remove every border check.
If Britain were to rejoin the single market
If Britain were to rejoin the single market, it would be a significant step with the country having to accept closer alignment with EU rules.
“There are clearly options that need to be
“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,” Burnham told the BBC.
Although Burnham hasn’t set out any timetables or
Although Burnham hasn’t set out any timetables or specifics, to “go all the way” would mean considering EU membership. He went further in his interviews on Wednesday than his conference speech in which he told delegates Britain could not keep avoiding a decision about its long-term relationship with its largest trading partner.
News
Andy Burnham: UK could ‘go all the way’ by rejoining EU
PM says he is looking at all options and ministers will examine ‘what is doable’ and the ‘pros and cons’
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Source: Guardian World