Labour Signals a Deeper Relationship With the EU
The government has signalled it wants a “deeper relationship” with the European Union under Andy Burnham, a minister indicated on Sunday, reviving the question of Britain’s ties with Brussels. The remarks come after reports that Mr Burnham was handed a plan to rejoin the single market, though the government has not adopted it. Any move towards closer alignment would be politically charged.
A decade on from the Brexit vote, the argument over Britain’s relationship with Europe has quietly reopened, driven by those who believe the split has held back growth. Ministers appear willing to pursue closer cooperation on trade, security and standards, while stopping well short of rejoining the single market or customs union, which would reignite the fiercest rows. The politics are delicate: closer ties appeal to many voters but risk handing Reform UK a weapon and reviving old divisions. How far Mr Burnham is prepared to go remains unclear. Watch what concrete steps towards the EU the government proposes.