Burnham signals he will fight next election on platform of taking Britain back into Europe - and ministers will have to back free movement to keep their jobs

Published: 03:40 EDT, 26 October 2026 | Updated: 04:11 EDT, 26 October 2026 Andy Burnham today signalled Labour will fight the next general election on a platform of undoing Brexit and taking Britain back into the European Union.The Prime Minister this morning ruled out making the seismic change in this parliament - which is due to end in July 2029 at the latest. But he pointedly refused to rule it out after an election if Labour retains power, setting up a potentially blockbuster election when it happens.Mr Burnham again dampened speculation there would be a snap election, saying he did not expect to go to the country 'any time soon'.But when it does happen it is shaping up to be a major moment for the country, with Mr Burnham pinning a shopping list of huge changes on keeping his job. Mr Burnham told ITV's Good Morning Britain hat he wants to see Britain rejoin the EU 'in [his] lifetime', but claimed he would not 'move ahead of the public'.He said: 'We have a decade of experience now looking back at Brexit. I don't think it has played out as people said it would at the time. We got a harder Brexit. It has weakened our economy.'I am not proposing rejoining in this Parliament. I said we wouldn't re-run the referendum. That's not what I'm doing. The British public will be the bosses here. Mr Burnham told ITV's Good Morning Britain he was 'not proposing any changes in this Parliament' - but refused to rule it out at the next'I don't think things have worked out as they said they would at the time, particularly when it comes to immigration.'On re-adopting free movement rules, Mr Burnham told the Sunday Times that the nature of immigration into the UK had been 'different' since Brexit - with more foreigners moving permanently rather than returning to their home countries.Reports today also suggest Mr Burnham will expect ministers previously critical of rejoining the EU to back doing so if he decides it is in the country's best interests, even if it also includes freedom of movement.The Prime Minister wants to consider various options for a new relationship with Brussels, potentially including a return to full EU membership or joining the single market – which would require free movement.Mr Burnham will meet EU chiefs including European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on November 20 as he seeks to strike a better deal with the bloc.But he also wants a discussion about the long-term future of the UK-EU relationship, 10 years after the country voted for Brexit.