"Back into the European Union's arms": Andy Burnham's high-stakes move [Lee Seok-woo's Global 24]

[Financial News] "Back into the European Union's arms..."
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, is preparing to make a high-stakes move to secure the UK's reentry into the EU just three months after taking office. It is now widely regarded as almost certain that he will put the matter to a referendum. Only the timing appears to remain in question.
The possibility has even been raised that Prime Minister Burnham could make a "second Brexit" referendum his high-stakes move for the next general election. This has fueled discussion of the UK's potential return to the EU as a social issue in Britain.   
According to British media outlets on the 2nd, local time, Prime Minister Burnham declared at the ruling Labour Party's national conference, held in Liverpool beginning on the 27th, that "Brexit did more harm than good." He named a "long-term reset of relations with European partners" as a major agenda item for the party to pursue. The article says this reset refers to rejoining the EU.
In a recent interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Prime Minister Burnham said he would consider "all options" for improving relations between the UK and the EU, from rejoining the EU customs union and single market and securing Canadian-style associate membership to a full return to the EU.
Asked in an interview with Channel 4 News whether he planned to include rejoining the EU in the Labour Party's manifesto, he said, "At this point, I will rule nothing out," adding, "We will decide what action to take in the future based on the direction supported by the public."


The Telegraph assessed that Burnham had effectively hinted at the possibility of a second Brexit referendum. The Guardian also reported that the UK prime minister's office has been contacting think tanks and polling organizations to gauge public support for reversing Brexit.
Prime Minister Burnham, who took office in July, had maintained a reserved stance on discussions of rejoining the EU, saying he would focus on domestic issues. As Russia's hybrid offensive against Europe and the unilateralism of the Donald Trump administration in the United States intensified, however, he brought the issue of improving ties with the EU to the forefront.
As the EU's 27 member states unite on the international stage to pursue an "Emergency Security Protocol" for a joint security response and "Made in Europe" to protect industries within the bloc, the UK finds itself on the outside with both the United States and the EU.
The shift in British public opinion toward the EU is attributed to deepening political polarization and the UK's poor economic performance since Brexit. The UK has changed prime ministers six times in the decade since the Brexit referendum.
Prime Minister Burnham fundamentally supports rejoining the EU. He previously said he hoped the UK would return to the EU "in his lifetime." In an interview with Sky News this week, he emphasized, "Polling shows that public opinion currently favors returning to the EU."



The Labour Party's approval rating had plunged during the tenure of former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, but after Burnham became prime minister, the party reclaimed the top spot in opinion polls from the far-right Reform Party, thanks to policies aimed at supporting people's livelihoods.
The EU is generally welcoming the prospect of reunion with the UK. French President Emmanuel Macron responded to Burnham's suggestion that he was considering rejoining the EU by saying, "Come back." Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also said, "We welcome you with open arms."
A source at EU headquarters said the bloc plans to assess how serious the UK is about building a new relationship as it prepares for next month's EU-UK summit. Some have also pointed out that discussions on reunification may not proceed smoothly once they reach sensitive issues such as EU budget contributions and open borders.
In a June 2016 referendum, the UK decided to leave the EU by 52% to 48% and formally withdrew from the EU in January 2020. Recent public opinion is the opposite of what it was 10 years ago. In a June YouGov poll, 55% of respondents supported rejoining the EU.

[email protected] Lee Seok-woo, international affairs specialist Reporter