UK Minister Downplays EU Rejoin Talk, Citing Desire for Stable Relationship

A senior UK minister has asserted that the government has no intention of revisiting the contentious debate over European Union membership, emphasizing a desire for a more stable relationship with the bloc.

Science minister Chris McDonald told GB News that Prime Minister Andy Burnham was initiating a "big conversation" about the UK's future relationship with the EU, but clarified that this does not mean a push to rejoin or reopen "the really acrimonious debate that we had in the past."

"What the Prime Minister wants is to have a big conversation with the country for people to think about, 'Well, what would our future sort of settled arrangement with the EU look like?'" McDonald explained. He added that the aim is to secure a "more stable relationship with the EU that will be in our economic benefit."

This statement comes amid signals from Burnham that have fueled speculation about a potential shift in the Labour party's position on Brexit. Burnham recently told MPs that he favored a "serious dialogue about the different options for our relationship in the long term," and had previously not ruled out committing to rejoin the EU in a future Labour manifesto.

These remarks have reportedly delighted pro-European politicians who advocate for reversing the 2016 referendum decision. However, the prospect of reopening the Brexit debate has also caused concern among some Labour members.

McDonald's comments contrasted with those of Burnham's mentor, former Labour leader Lord Kinnock, who suggested that the Prime Minister "obviously" wants to rejoin the EU. Kinnock posited that Burnham had only downplayed this ambition during a recent by-election due to a focus on "winning."

McDonald suggested that the UK has already made incremental improvements to its relationship with the EU following the withdrawal agreement negotiated by Boris Johnson, and that the current focus is on achieving greater stability.

Burnham is expected to discuss closer ties with the EU when he meets with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen at an upcoming summit.