Senior officials in Downing Street have begun gathering evidence on how the public might respond to a pledge for the United Kingdom to rejoin the European Union, reaching out to thinktanks and polling organisations to test levels of backing.
The outreach to independent research bodies and pollsters is aimed at building a picture of public sentiment and the potential political consequences of a reversal of Brexit. Officials are understood to be in an exploratory phase, commissioning data and analysis rather than signalling a formal government policy shift.
Separately, aides to Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester and a prominent Labour figure, have been consulting EU experts across a range of organisations about how voters might view a commitment to rejoin the bloc. Those conversations come amid growing discussion within parts of the party about whether such a pledge should feature in Labour's next manifesto.
Rejoining the EU would represent a significant strategic and political decision, and both the government and opposition figures appear to be gauging public reaction before any proposal is advanced. The consultations underline the sensitivities around the issue and the importance of polling and expert analysis in shaping party positions ahead of future electoral contests.
At this stage, the activity is investigative rather than declaratory: there has been no formal policy announcement from Downing Street or a confirmed manifesto commitment from Labour. Observers say the tone of the consultations reflects a broader appetite among political actors to understand the electoral implications of major shifts on Europe before committing to a course of action.