Andy Burnham, as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, announced that he intends to start a comprehensive review of Brexit. At his party's annual conference held in Liverpool, he said that the current plans to improve the Brexit deal set by the previous Conservative government are "not enough" and that leaving the European Union has "caused more harm than benefit."
Burnham's Future Plans
However, Burnham did not make any immediate promises for reforms. He stated that at a meeting with the European Union at the end of this year, he will present various options for the long-term relationship between the UK and its European partners. Burnham emphasized: "There are various options, and I want to see if we can agree on one that provides clarity about our position and the future of the continent we live in."
Read more: Magdalena Andersson failed to form a government after the election victory
Details of the Upcoming Meeting
There is little information about whether these options will be presented to a public vote or elections. The anticipated meeting in Brussels, initially scheduled for July, has been postponed due to the change in Prime Minister. Although a new date for this meeting has not yet been set, both sides have expressed a desire to hold it before the end of the year. The EU ambassador, Jukka Salovaara, announced that this meeting is expected to take place in November.
The aim of this meeting is to finalize ongoing negotiations regarding trade agreements in agriculture, youth visas, and carbon emissions cooperation, but it could also serve as a launchpad for further negotiations.
Reactions to Burnham's Speech
Stella Creasy, a Member of Parliament who chairs the Labour Movement for Europe, urged the Prime Minister to set aside the red lines that Keir Starmer has established regarding non-participation in the single market, customs union, or freedom of movement. She said: "Everything should be on the table, and removing the red lines about Europe is the first essential step to restoring our position on the global stage."
However, in Westminster, Eurosceptic Labour opponents, the Reform Party, accused Burnham of "betrayal." Richard Tice, deputy leader of the Reform Party, said: "Andy Burnham has just been appointed Prime Minister and is currently trying to bring us back to Brussels through the back door." He added: "Brexit has caused more harm than benefit, but what has really harmed us is a government that cannot deliver growth."
Read more: Voting in Switzerland on the new definition of the country's neutrality · European defense ministers discuss emergency security protocol
