Andy Burnham raises prospect of UK rejoining European Union after next election

Key Points:

• British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated the possibility of the UK rejoining the European Union after the next general election, stating all options from maintaining the status quo to full reintegration are on the table.
• Burnham plans to present different options for the UK's long-term relationship with the EU later this year, aiming to build national consensus on the best path forward, potentially including rejoining the single market or customs union.
• He criticized Brexit as having weakened the UK economically and politically, arguing it failed to deliver promised control over borders and rules, and expressed a desire to explore a more radical approach to EU relations.
• The proposed reconsideration of the UK-EU relationship comes amid delayed talks with the EU and has drawn criticism from right-wing parties like Reform UK, who view it as a betrayal of Brexit.
• Economic analysis suggests Brexit has cost the UK 2-4% of GDP, with closer ties to the EU potentially recovering up to 1.2 percentage points of economic output, highlighting the stakes involved in future negotiations.