Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has proposed a national discussion to reestablish relations with the European Union (EU) following Brexit, as a recent poll indicates that nearly half of Britons support rejoining the EU.
According to The Guardian on October 3, a survey conducted by the Messina Group last month found that 49% of respondents favored rejoining the EU, significantly outpacing the 28.5% who opposed it. Support for revising bilateral agreements with the EU stood at 48.2%, while 47.1% favored joining a customs union. Only 27.9% believed the UK should distance itself further from the EU, and just 29.7% felt that Brexit was the right decision.
Burnham mentioned the upcoming UK-EU summit scheduled for November during his speech at the Labour Party conference on September 29, stating, "I will present various options for the long-term relationship between the UK and our European partners." In an interview with the BBC the following day, he suggested that the UK could "go all the way" in establishing its relationship with the EU, leaving the door open for the possibility of rejoining.
Previously, Burnham had expressed respect for the outcome of the 2016 Brexit referendum and stated he would not pursue rejoining the EU. The Labour government, which took office in 2024, has also focused on redefining its relationship with the EU rather than seeking reentry.
However, recent public opinion appears to be shifting in favor of strengthening ties with the EU. A YouGov poll reported in June indicated that 55% supported rejoining the EU, compared to 34% who opposed it.
The political calculations surrounding this issue are complex. The Messina Group analyzed that various scenarios for strengthening relations with the EU could increase Labour's vote share by 4.3 to 7.4 percentage points. Conversely, the resurgence of social tensions surrounding Brexit could benefit the right-wing Reform Party, led by Nigel Farage, who warned that a second referendum would deeply divide the nation like never before.
In addition to EU relations, Burnham has proposed reforms to the electoral system and social welfare. He announced plans to promote a 'national care service' similar to the National Health Service (NHS) and to establish a national commission to review electoral reform.
Burnham emphasized the need to reform the current first-past-the-post electoral system, which he believes does not accurately reflect the recent public sentiment, which has become more fragmented among multiple parties. However, the BBC noted that these proposals are more likely to be part of Labour's platform ahead of the next general election in 2029 rather than immediate policy changes.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.