Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declined to rule out including a pledge to reverse Brexit in Labour’s next election manifesto, but said his short-term focus is on repairing relationships with European partners and deepening trading links.
Asked whether the party would fight the next general election on a platform of rejoining the European Union, Burnham skirted a direct answer. He told reporters that rebuilding bridges with European allies and securing closer trading arrangements were the priority as he prepares to meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for the first time on Tuesday.
The meeting with von der Leyen is due to be the prime minister’s initial face-to-face encounter with the head of the EU executive since taking office, and comes amid wider discussions about the post-Brexit relationship between the UK and the bloc. Burnham signalled a preference for focusing on practical cooperation on trade first, suggesting any future constitutional decision on membership could follow further rebuilding of ties.
Labour officials and diplomats will be watching the talks closely for indications of how rapidly the government intends to pursue closer economic alignment with the EU and whether that approach will open the door to more substantive constitutional options down the line. For now, Burnham’s comments set out a phased approach: prioritise trade and diplomatic repair, while leaving open the possibility of a later political debate on EU membership.