Prime Minister Andy Burnham has opened a conversation about the United Kingdom rejoining the European Union — and government insiders and Brussels veterans are warning him it will not be smooth.
Burnham heads to Brussels on November 20 for the second annual EU-UK Summit, with negotiations on a new bilateral agreement reported to be about 90 per cent complete, according to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg. The summit itself is not formally intended to discuss rejoining. But Burnham has publicly suggested that returning to the bloc remains his long-term goal, telling broadcasters on October 26 that he wants Britain back in the EU “in my lifetime” and calling for an “honest” discussion about Brexit’s effects. At Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool last month he said Brexit had done “more harm than good”.
What Brussels would demand
The warnings from the EU side are blunt. Michel Barnier, the EU’s former chief Brexit negotiator, told the BBC that the UK cannot pick and choose its relationship: “If we wanted to go back in, he told me, the UK could forget the famous rebate, and there is no way to be in the huge trading bloc, the single market, without accepting freedom of movement.” EU officials have separately signalled the UK could avoid the euro and Schengen if it rejoined, and Burnham has said he would not recommend joining either — but the rebate and free movement look non-negotiable.
The immediate summit agenda shows how hard even the closer relationship will be. Negotiators have spent months finalising a package on agri-food trade, a youth mobility scheme and emissions trading, but the youth mobility cap is still disputed — Brussels proposed 150,000, the UK proposed 50,000 — and a last-minute EU demand to cut tuition fees for its students in the UK is expected to be deferred.
A cabinet told to speak with one voice
The debate is now spilling into public view inside the government. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg today that closer ties will involve “trade-offs” and signalled she does not favour rejoining the bloc, while arguing Britain should still pursue closer relations to deliver on the promises made during Brexit. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned the youth mobility scheme would open the door to “uncontrolled migration”.
A government spokesperson insisted Burnham “isn’t suggesting a reversal of Brexit currently” and is “not leaning either way” — saying it is time to discuss what kind of long-term relationship with Europe is best for Britain, and that the decision will be for the British public. Burnham has promised to honour Labour’s 2024 manifesto red lines: no return to the single market, the customs union or freedom of movement in this Parliament. An Ipsos poll conducted October 15–22 found 56 per cent of UK adults support a return to the EU against 30 per cent opposed. The conversation is open; the path back, Brussels is making clear, would be anything but easy.
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