Prime Minister Andy Burnham wants to use the summit between the United Kingdom and the European Union, scheduled for November 20 in Brussels, to improve relations with the community bloc, which the United Kingdom left in 2016.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham wants London to explore the possibility of closer ties with the European Union. In his opinion, the United Kingdom cannot be limited to the relationship established after Brexit, and the summit on November 20, in Brussels, should open the discussion about what might follow.
The meeting will be the second summit-level reunion between the two parties since the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, following the one in May 2025, almost nine years after the 2016 referendum, in which 52% of voters chose to leave the community bloc.
The date of the new meeting was confirmed by Brussels, notes Agerpres citing international agencies.
In his speech in Parliament on Monday, October 12, Andy Burnham argued that the government needs to consider more scenarios for the relationship with the European Union and that “maintaining the status quo is not enough”.
“It’s time to engage in a serious dialogue about the various options,” he stated, emphasizing that any change must have public support and asking parliamentarians to judge the proposed variants based on their concrete advantages.
“At every stage, the one who will have the last word is the British people and I am convinced that public opinion currently supports a pragmatic approach like the one I propose,” said Andy Burnham.
He warned that the refusal to consider a new agreement with the EU could mean missing out on economic opportunities and tools to combat illegal immigration.
“Turning our backs on the possibility of concluding a new agreement with the European Union, which could stimulate economic growth and combat illegal immigration, would mean a breach of duty,” the Prime Minister declared.
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