Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to address the Commons today, 12 October 2026, urging MPs to confront the damage caused by Brexit and embrace closer ties with the EU. He will argue that this approach is necessary to increase economic growth and tackle illegal immigration.
Ahead of an upcoming UK-EU summit, Mr Burnham will state that Britain cannot afford to disregard opportunities for greater cooperation with Europe, asserting that the current status quo is insufficient. A No 10 source indicated that the Prime Minister believes it is time for a new discussion about the long-term relationship with the EU, and that not working to secure a deal that boosts growth would be a "major dereliction of duty."
The Prime Minister's statement comes as MPs are scheduled to debate a petition in Westminster Hall, which has garnered over 111,000 signatures, calling for Britain to apply to rejoin the EU. This intervention follows renewed divisions over Britain's relationship with Europe, with some senior Conservatives opposing moves towards closer EU ties, while some within Mr Burnham's own party express unease about reopening the Brexit debate.
Mr Burnham's address also follows his recent declaration on Sunday that Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum. He stated that he received confirmation of Russian involvement after entering Downing Street, though he did not disclose the evidence or suggest it altered the referendum result. The Prime Minister had previously indicated a shift in tone from his predecessor, Keir Starmer, by opening the door to options including fully rejoining the bloc at Labour's conference last month.