Britain's prime minister, Andy Burnham, has indicated a willingness to reconsider rejoining the European Union without necessarily holding a second referendum, amid growing calls within his party to include such a commitment in the next Labour manifesto. While emphasizing the need for public consent on any change, Burnham declined to confirm whether a future general election mandate could substitute for another referendum.

Speaking on a political podcast, the prime minister described the prospect of rejoining the EU as “jumping ahead too far” but acknowledged that public opinion on the issue may have shifted more rapidly than that of politicians. He is scheduled to address the House of Commons with a statement on Britain’s future relationship with the EU, underscoring the topic's significance for the country.

Jess Phillips, a Labour MP and former junior minister, has publicly supported including a pledge to rejoin the EU in the party’s upcoming manifesto. Phillips, speaking at the Cliveden Literary Festival, interpreted Burnham’s recent conference speech as an invitation for a broader debate on the matter. She expressed opposition to a second referendum, stating a preference to avoid returning to the ballot box on the issue.

In his conference address, Burnham outlined intentions to seek political consensus on the UK’s relationship with Brussels, advocating for “closer integration.” He intends to press these views at a UK-EU summit planned for later this year, where discussions will focus on areas such as agriculture, trade, and immigration policy. Burnham criticized Brexit for its negative impact on economic growth and for undermining Britain’s control over migration.

International perspectives on the possibility of Britain rejoining the EU add context to the domestic debate. Estonia’s prime minister, Kristen Michal, affirmed that the UK would be “very welcome back,” though she noted that re-entry is not currently a topic for the European Council meeting this week. Separately, Sandro Gozi, a member of the European Parliament from France, stated that any return to the EU would likely require Britain to accept the euro currency and the principle of free movement of people.

Burnham also revealed he had been briefed on Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum after requesting intelligence assessments upon considering a Downing Street role. Confirming that such interference did occur, he emphasized the importance of publicly acknowledging these facts. Burnham suggested this transparency could help European voters understand the influence of foreign actors on populist politics, particularly in Germany and France, where right-wing parties have recently gained support.