Macron calls Brexit 'biggest lie in 30 years' and takes aim at Britain's immigration and economic woes - as Andy Burnham floats idea of rejoining EU

Published: 10:15 EDT, 30 September 2026 | Updated: 10:24 EDT, 30 September 2026 France's Emmanuel Macron called Brexit the 'biggest lie of the last 30 years,' as Andy Burnham floated the idea of Britain rejoining the European Union. Speaking in Madrid during a state visit on Tuesday evening, Macron also took aim at Britain's economic woes and issues surrounding immigration. The French president said: 'Brexit is the biggest lie of the last 30 years. Those who said, 'we'll be richer' – eight points less of GDP ten years later.'Who said, 'we'll solve the problem of immigration' – it's more complicated than before. And who said, 'we're going to be a huge success in international trade' – it's even worse.'His comments came as Burnham said in an interview on Wednesday that Britain should consider options for its future relationship with the EU, including rejoining the bloc. Responding to Burnham's latest remarks alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday, Macron said the move would be 'excellent news' and a 'good decision'. Meanwhile, Sanchez said Spain would welcome Britain back in the EU 'with open arms.' The French leader added the British had 'always been useful in helping us simplify things' when the UK was part of the EU and were 'demanding partners'. France's Emmanuel Macron called Brexit the 'biggest lie of the last 30 years,' at a conference in Madrid today Andy Burnham (pictured) said in an interview broadcast on Wednesday that Britain should consider options for its future relationship with the EU, including rejoining the bloc'Andy Burnham is right to have this boldness,' he added.Macron also pointed to the limits of the UK seeking closer ties with the EU while remaining outside the bloc, a decade after the Brexit vote.'You cannot choose between the freedoms of the union and decide to take what suits us and not the rest,' he said.Sanchez took a similar position, calling Brexit 'a huge loss, both for the British population and for the whole European project'.Burnham said in an interview broadcast earlier today that rejoining the EU was among the potential answers to the unavoidable question of what Britain's future relationship with Europe could look like.His comments came after he told his ruling Labour Party's annual conference that he would set out 'different options' for future ties with the European Union closer to a planned summit with the bloc later this year.But Burnham has faced backlash after hinting at rejoining the EU, with Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra warning that rejoining the bloc is 'unrealisitic'. The stance also represents a dramatic U-turn for Burnham, who in May told a conference in Leeds: 'I am not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU.'I respect the decision that was made at the referendum, and it is going to undermine everything I have said about strengthening democracy if we don't respect that vote.' Macron's remarks came during a press conference alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid todayThe Prime Minister told the BBC he did not want to leave the issue 'hanging' and he wanted to be clear on 'where we want Britain to go in the next decade'.Asked whether he wanted the UK to rejoin the bloc, Mr Burnham told Radio 4's Today programme he wanted to 'look at the options'.He added: 'We could stay as we are. That's definitely an option, if people think this is the right place to stay,' he told the programme.'We could look at what (former Conservative chancellor) George Osborne has said about a customs union, we could look at what the Liberal Democrats said at their conference about the single market, or we could go all the way.'Labour's election manifesto in 2024 ruled out joining a customs union, going back into the single market, or allowing the return of freedom of movement with the EU.'There are clearly options that need to be considered, and we have to look at what is doable and what would be the pros and cons of each,' he told the BBC.