UK's Burnham risks reopening Brexit debate with bid to find consensus on EU ties
EWU•Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would seek consensus on closer ties with the EU, with a November summit as the next step. He said Brexit had done more harm than good.
1. Seeking consensus
Burnham said he would use the planned November summit with the EU to outline options for Britain's long-term relationship with its European partners and see whether consensus could be found. He said closer ties were intended to improve growth and prosperity.
2. A divisive debate
The effort comes 10 years after Britain voted to leave the EU. Burnham has previously said he wants Britain to rejoin in his lifetime, but recently said he was not proposing that step and respected the 2016 referendum result.
3. European cooperation
Britain has tried unsuccessfully to join a collective European defence investment programme and is lobbying Brussels to include it in a broader “Made in Europe” manufacturing programme.
