UK PM Burnham says may rejoin EU if ‘pros outweigh cons’; France, Spain say ‘welcome back’

Burnham had backed remaining in the EU during the 2016 referendum (Photo: Reuters).

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday that the UK could rejoin the European Union as one of the options after considering “pros and cons” of its possible relationships with the organisation.Burnham had backed remaining in the EU during the 2016 referendum.On Tuesday, Burnham spoke at the Labour Party’s annual conference and said the country should once more look at its options for “Britain’s long-term relationship with our European partners”.He argued that Brexit had not delivered the “taking back control” promised by its supporters, and had instead left the country weaker, particularly on the economy and in handling high levels of immigration.An EU-UK summit, originally scheduled for July 22, was postponed after Keir Starmer resigned as prime minister. It could now take place in November, although any formal move would have to wait until the next election, which is due by mid-2029. Burnham has said he will keep to the pledges Starmer’s government made at the 2024 election, which included a promise to “stay outside of the EU” and no return to the single market, the customs union or freedom of movement.However, the question remains whether the EU would be willing to offer Britain re-entry on terms Burnham might favour.According to Reuters, Polls show that most Britons would back joining the EU, but that support often fades once requirements such as contributing to budgets and adopting the euro are taken into account.

European allies welcome remarks

European leaders, meanwhile, have responded positively to Burnham’s remarks.At a joint news conference in Madrid with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said a British decision to rejoin the EU would be “excellent news” and “a good decision”.Sanchez said Spain would welcome Britain back into the EU “with open arms”.Britain voted to leave the European Union in 2016, ending more than four decades of membership and setting off years of political upheaval, as successive governments grappled with the economic and diplomatic consequences of the vote.