Burnham told the Labour Party's annual conference that Brexit had not delivered the 'taking back control' promised by voters, instead leaving the nation weaker in economic terms and overwhelmed by immigration.
French President Emmanuel Macron said a UK decision to re‑join would be 'excellent news' and a good decision, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez added that Spain would welcome Britain back with open arms.
The 2016 referendum saw 52.2% of voters choose leave, ending 47 years of membership. Polls now indicate that most Britons would back re‑entry if the UK accepted EU fiscal contributions and euro adoption, though support wanes when those conditions are highlighted.
An EU‑UK summit originally slated for July 22 was postponed after Keir Starmer resigned; it could now take place in November, but any formal move would wait until the next election by mid‑2029, when the UK will decide whether to re‑enter.
Burnham pledged to honor the Starmer government's commitments, which included staying outside the EU, no return to the single market, customs union, or freedom of movement, while keeping the door open for future negotiations.