Burnham Opens the Door to a New Referendum on EU Membership
The Prime Minister said it is “possible” that a future Labour manifesto could promise an in-out referendum on the European Union, while insisting a vote “wouldn’t be the right thing to do right now”. He set out the choices as staying exactly as Britain is, a customs union, the single market, “or we could go all the way”. From Madrid, Emmanuel Macron answered in English: “Welcome back.”
This is the clearest break yet from a manifesto that ruled out the customs union, the single market and freedom of movement, and promised only to make Brexit work. In May, standing in the by-election that returned him to Parliament, he promised not to “re-run” Brexit arguments and said he was “not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU”. Pressed on Wednesday, the answer was: “Yes, things are possible. I think where we are isn’t good enough.” The French president went well beyond politeness, calling Brexit “the biggest lie of the last 30 years” and ruling out any halfway house: “You cannot choose between the freedoms of the union, nor can you decide to take what suits you and leave the rest. So, come back.” Pedro Sánchez said Spain would open its arms. The technical obstacles are unchanged — a customs union requires full alignment with European trade policy and tariffs, the single market requires free movement — and the rebate and opt-outs are gone. Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice accused him of “trying to sneak us back into Brussels via the back door”. Watch the Commons debate on 12 October and the Brussels summit in November.