Labour Party tensions are rising over Brexit as Prime Minister Andy Burnham signals a potential shift toward closer ties with the European Union, a move that has sparked caution and disagreement within the party’s ranks. The Prime Minister has pledged to outline plans for a strengthened EU relationship following a trade summit in Brussels scheduled for next month.

Burnham reignited debate over the UK’s EU membership after suggesting over the weekend that freedom of movement with the EU could be restored and that rejoining the bloc might be considered after the next general election. His comments have prompted a rare public call from Jo Stevens, a Cabinet minister under Burnham’s predecessor Sir Keir Starmer, urging a full reversal of Brexit. Stevens, who served as Welsh secretary until July and stepped down when Burnham reshuffled the Cabinet, said she supports resurrecting membership to undo damage from Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal. “I want the UK to be an EU member again,” she said, emphasizing the need to repair the economic impact caused by the withdrawal agreement.

However, some current Labour frontbenchers voiced concerns that Burnham’s proposed EU rapprochement could alienate voters, particularly in constituencies that supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum. One minister from a Leave-supporting area warned against “reopening old wounds,” reflecting anxiety about risking electoral backlash if Labour repositioned itself too far toward the EU. Another senior party figure cautioned against including rejoining the EU in the next election manifesto, stating that while fostering greater trade and cooperation within Europe is positive—especially for younger generations—the party should stop short of committing to full membership. “The public aren’t in that space yet. I don’t think we want to be making the case to rejoin next time,” the frontbencher said.

Stevens’s intervention, the first from a notable Starmer loyalist since leaving the Cabinet, is expected to intensify internal debate over how Labour should approach the UK’s relationship with Europe going forward. The differing positions underscore ongoing divisions over Brexit within Labour, with some advocating a clear break from the past while others argue for renewed engagement with the EU.

A government spokesperson affirmed Burnham’s intentions, stating that the Prime Minister “believes a stronger relationship with our closest neighbours is in our national interest” and emphasized the importance of “looking clearly at the evidence and acting in our national interest” as discussions with the EU advance. The coming weeks are likely to see further scrutiny of Labour’s evolving stance on Europe as it seeks to balance internal consensus with public sentiment ahead of the next general election.