Andy Burnham, Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, has said that he would like the United Kingdom to rejoin the European Union “within his lifetime.”
Speaking on The Guardian’s Politics Weekly podcast, Burnham, 55, made the comments amid renewed speculation about his future in national politics and possible leadership ambitions. Reports have suggested several Labour MPs have expressed support for him as a potential successor to Keir Starmer.
Public opinion appears to echo some of this enthusiasm. A recent YouGov poll found that only 16 per cent of respondents would support Starmer over Burnham as future leader.
This would not be the first time Burnham has sought leadership, previously losing to Ed Miliband in 2010 and Jeremy Corbyn in 2015.
During these campaigns and his time in opposition, Burnham supported policies such as integrating a National Care Service into the NHS, abolishing tuition fees in favour of a graduate tax, and moving the education back towards a comprehensive system.
Elected as Mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017 after serving as MP for Leigh, Burnham has built his platform on devolution and regional reform. His comments on the EU, however, mark a rare input into foreign policy.
Acknowledging that there is “no prospect of rejoining anytime soon,” Burnham argued that figures such as Nigel Farage must be “held responsible” for what he described as the “disaster” of Brexit.
Among Edinburgh students, his remarks have prompted mixed reactions.
The Edinburgh Labour Students said that Burnham’s comments reflected “constructive support” for the party, describing him as “a hardworking and successful mayor” who “continues to stand firmly behind Keir Starmer and the mission to deliver change across the country.”
ELS added that while some within Labour remain open to revisiting EU membership, “the current position of this Labour Government is to make Brexit work in the national interest.”
Members of the Edinburgh University Conservative & Unionist Association struck a more cautious tone. They emphasised that while there is “a diversity of opinion” within the association, most members “recognise that Brexit is decided for the foreseeable future.”
However, they warned that reopening the debate risks “dividing the country all over again” and could “galvanise support for Reform”
Burnham’s statement reopens questions that continue to divide public opinion and the Labour Party. For many students, it also revives the debate over Britain’s place in Europe and whether, nearly a decade after the referendum, the issue is truly settled.
“Andy Burnham on 13 August 2024 (cropped 2)” by Scottish Government is licensed under CC BY 2.0.