Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated that the question of the UK rejoining the EU is "for another day," while speaking to reporters at the United Nations summit in New York on Tuesday. He stated his current priority is to "build on the good work that Keir [Starmer] did in building bridges" with the EU.
Burnham's immediate focus is on a UK-EU summit, which is hoped to take place later this year. He said the aim is to reach practical agreements that will boost the British economy, alongside discussions on EU requests regarding youth mobility.
The Prime Minister also expressed concerns about the EU's "Made in Europe" scheme, which aims to prioritise contracts with Continent-based firms. Burnham warned that potential British exclusion from this plan could lead to "collateral damage" for UK manufacturers and supply chains.
The proposed UK-EU summit was initially planned under former Prime Minister Starmer but was put on hold following his resignation in June. Burnham is scheduled to meet with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at the UN summit.