Burnham refuses to rule out rejoining the EU, saying a Brexit reversal in Labour's manifesto is 'for another day'

From the Newshound archive · first published 21 September 2026 · last updated 22 September 2026.

Andy Burnham stopped short of ruling out a manifesto commitment to return Britain to the EU, keeping open the possibility of a Brexit reversal as a future election pledge. He spoke to reporters on his flight to New York for the UN General Assembly, calling the question "for another day" and pointing to a UK-EU summit later this year as his immediate focus. Europe minister Hamish Falconer has repeatedly taken the same position in recent months, also declining to close the door on such a commitment.

Burnham suggested the 2016 referendum result was illegitimate, arguing that 'outside forces' had sought to 'manipulate opinion' and drive the outcome.

Support for EU membership has climbed to a record high of 61 per cent, with nearly every constituency now in favour of rejoining, Sir John Curtice told reporters.