Burnham Rules Out Pushing for EU Rejoining This Parliament

Andy Burnham said on ITV's Good Morning Britain on 26 October 2026 that he would not push for the United Kingdom to rejoin the European Union during the current parliament, the period between general elections. He made the comments at the start of budget week, the week the government sets out its annual plan for taxes and spending.

Presenters Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley put questions to him about Brexit, the UK's departure from the EU, the bloc of European countries the UK belongs to no longer. Asked by Madeley whether he saw himself as destined to be the prime minister who would take Britain back into the EU, Burnham replied: "Honestly, I don't." The Guardian reported his answers from the programme.

On Brexit, he said his job was to be pragmatic, to make the arrangement work better and to add growth to the economy. Asked by Reid whether he wanted the UK to rejoin the EU, he said that in his lifetime he would like to see that happen. He added that he would not move ahead of public opinion on the question, saying that "the British public are the bosses here."

He said he would stick to Labour's manifesto, the party's published list of promises ahead of an election, and not seek rejoining in this parliament. Burnham told the programme he was "not proposing any changes in this Parliament" that would bring the UK back into the EU, and he ruled out trying to rejoin before the next election. ITV News carried his remarks.

Burnham also argued that talking about Brexit in a more practical and honest way could bring together people who voted in different ways in the 2016 referendum.

Separately, The Telegraph reported that Burnham blamed Brexit for the small-boats crisis, the rise in migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.

Asked about the timing of a vote, Burnham insisted there would be no election any time soon and said his mind was not on an early election.