Brexit reversal on the table 10 years on from referendum

U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggested this week that British voters could be given the chance to reverse Brexit, the country’s highly contentious departure from the European Union a decade ago.

Burnham, who became prime minister over the summer, told the BBC on Wednesday it was “possible” a referendum on rejoining the EU could be included in a future election manifesto.

A U.K. general election is not currently expected before 2029. Prime ministers are able to trigger an early snap election with the backing of parliament, but Burnham — who replaced predecessor Keir Starmer without a public vote — has ruled out such a move.

In his interview with the BBC, the prime minister said a referendum “wouldn’t be the right thing to do right now,” but added that the U.K. must “consider the options” for its relationship with the EU, arguing that “where we are isn’t good enough.”

Asked whether an in-out referendum in a future election manifesto was a possibility, Burnham said: “yes, things are possible.”

During the previous general election — which saw Starmer lead the governing Labour party to a landslide victory and end 14 years of Conservative rule — Burnham was serving as Mayor of Manchester. As he prepared to challenge Starmer’s leadership, Burnham pledged not to “re-run” arguments over Brexit.  

In a separate interview with the BBC’s Today program, Burnham said he wanted to “look at the options” for resetting U.K.-EU relations.

“We could stay as we are. That’s definitely an option, if people think this is the right place to stay,” he said, when asked if he wanted Britain to rejoin the union. “We could look at what [former finance minister] George Osborne has said about a customs union, we could look at… the single market or we could go all the way.”

The interviews came after Burnham’s speech at the governing Labour party’s annual conference on Tuesday, in which he said “Brexit hasn’t given us control.”

The 2016 Brexit campaign promised to “take back control” of immigration, free up more money for the country’s health service, and forge trade deals with the rest of the world.

While the value of U.K. goods and services exports has grown significantly in the last decade, according to government figures, immigration and NHS funding pressures are more contentious than ever.

“Later this year, there will be a U.K.-EU summit,” Burnham said at the conference on Tuesday.

“We will not give Britain the clear path we need into the rest of the century until we decide on a long-term relationship with what is still our largest market. I cannot say to you truthfully that where we are is good enough. Brexit has done more harm than good [and] we need to restore a higher level of growth and prosperity for Britain.”