Labour Voters Overwhelmingly Want Burnham to Rejoin the EU, Poll Shows

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 11, 2026

A recent poll shows that nearly 75% of Labour voters support including a promise to start negotiations for the UK to rejoin the EU in the party’s next election manifesto, with a majority of voters from most major parties backing the idea. A comprehensive 10-year plan to facilitate reentry by 2036 emphasizes the economic and geopolitical benefits of EU membership, while making clear that a public referendum would be required to finalize any accession.

Nearly three-quarters of Labour voters support including a commitment to begin negotiations for the United Kingdom to rejoin the European Union in the party’s next election manifesto, according to a recent poll. The survey, conducted by European Movement UK in partnership with Observant, also found that a majority of voters across most major parties back such a pledge, with Reform UK supporters the notable exception.

The poll revealed that, if presented with a referendum on EU membership, 57 percent of Britons would vote to rejoin the bloc, compared with 30 percent who would oppose it. These findings coincide with the presentation of a comprehensive 10-year plan aimed at facilitating the UK’s return to the EU by 2036 or sooner.

The roadmap, developed by the European Movement and supported by figures such as former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine, ex-Labour leader Neil Kinnock, and former Liberal Democrat business secretary Sir Vince Cable, addresses key challenges associated with reintegration. These include strategies for managing sensitive issues such as adoption of the euro currency and participation in the Schengen free travel area.

Lord Heseltine framed the proposal as a timely approach to addressing global challenges in the decade since Brexit, stating, “Ten years on since Brexit, this is how we solve our shared global problems.” Lord Kinnock emphasized the pragmatic timeline, suggesting that given the UK’s ongoing economic and political difficulties outside the EU, faster accession could be feasible. He also urged a reduction in the influence of parties opposed to European integration.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham signaled openness to reconsidering the UK’s EU membership during the recent Labour conference, describing Brexit as having resulted in “a decade of drift and division” since the 2016 referendum. A parliamentary debate is scheduled to consider a petition with roughly 26,000 signatures advocating rejoining the EU.

The European Movement’s report underscores the economic cost of Brexit, estimating that new trade barriers with EU neighbors have contributed to the UK being between 4 and 8 percent less wealthy than it would have been otherwise. It also warns that shifting geopolitical dynamics—including deteriorating relations with the United States under the Trump administration and increased assertiveness from China—have weakened the UK’s international standing and trade protection capabilities outside the EU.

The proposed timeline of up to 2036 is intended to provide both urgency and realism, drawing comparisons to Finland and Sweden’s accession process in the mid-1990s, which was shorter due to their existing alignment with EU law through membership in the European Economic Area.

Former prime minister Tony Blair’s think tank has also advised Mr. Burnham to embed EU reentry within a 10-year strategic vision, highlighting the country’s continued compliance with much EU legislation post-Brexit as an advantage. However, the report stresses that a decisive majority of UK voters must endorse membership, making a clear manifesto commitment essential ahead of the next general election, anticipated by 2029. It further notes that any accession agreement would require ratification through a public referendum before becoming final.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.