UK reopens debate over closer ties with the European Union

Yesterday 19:42

By: Azzat Manal

UK reopens debate over closer ties with the European Union

Nearly a decade after the Brexit referendum, the United Kingdom is once again debating how far it should go in rebuilding its relationship with the European Union, after Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that rejoining the bloc should be considered alongside other options.

Speaking after the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Burnham said the government would examine the full range of possible arrangements, from maintaining the current post-Brexit framework to closer economic integration and, ultimately, possible EU membership. He said ministers would assess what could be achieved as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

The comments mark a shift in the political debate. Rather than committing the government to rejoining the EU, Burnham has presented membership as one possibility within a broader review of Britain's long-term relationship with Europe. The government has also been preparing for further discussions with EU institutions ahead of a planned UK-EU summit later this year.

Public opinion has also changed since the 2016 referendum. A YouGov survey published in June 2025 found that 56% of Britons considered the decision to leave the EU to have been wrong, although the same research showed that returning to the bloc was not necessarily viewed as an immediate political priority. More recent polling cited by Reuters in September 2026 put support for rejoining at 55% among voters.

Economic considerations remain central to the discussion. The UK's Office for Budget Responsibility continues to assume that Brexit will reduce the country's long-term trade intensity by around 15% compared with remaining in the EU, while its modelling assumes a 4% reduction in potential productivity over the longer term. These figures are modelling assumptions rather than measurements of a single observed effect and form part of the OBR's broader economic forecasts.

Any move toward deeper integration would nevertheless involve substantial political and institutional questions. Rejoining the EU would require negotiations with the bloc and its member states, while arrangements involving the single market or customs union would also have implications for trade, regulation and border procedures.

The issue is also generating a political response inside Britain. Reform UK, which has continued to defend the outcome of the 2016 referendum, has said it would oppose any attempt to take the country back into the EU. The debate therefore touches not only on Britain's relations with Europe but also on the future positioning of the country's political parties.

Relations between London and Brussels have already moved toward greater cooperation in several areas without reversing Brexit. In July, the British government said it wanted to build a closer relationship with the EU and confirmed preparations for a summit later in 2026. Discussions have included security, defence and economic cooperation.

European officials have also indicated that closer relations are possible, while any decision on the UK's future status would ultimately depend on formal negotiations. The debate therefore remains at the level of political options rather than an active process to restore British EU membership.

For now, the government's position is to examine the available choices rather than announce a return to the European Union. The discussion nevertheless represents a significant change in the way Britain's post-Brexit relationship with Europe is being addressed, putting questions about trade, political cooperation and possible future integration back into the centre of UK politics.