Follow Al Rai
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday that the return of the United Kingdom to the European Union may be one of several options for the future of the bilateral relationship.
The Labor Prime Minister announced in a speech during the Labor Party conference in Liverpool on Tuesday that he wants to present "different options" for long-term relations with the European Union at a summit scheduled to be held before the end of the year.
Britain voted in favor of leaving the European Union in a 2016 referendum.
Burnham, who previously fought for staying in the European Union, said he hopes Britain will return to the 27-member bloc.
In response to a question from BBC 4 radio on Wednesday, he said, "The options that can be considered now include joining the European single market and the customs union, or we can go further than that."
He added, "So it is clear that there are options that must be taken into account, and we must look at what is feasible, and what are the pros and cons of each option"
He continued, "What I am saying is that it is not good to leave this question hanging like this"
Burnham, who was elected Prime Minister in July, confirmed in his speech at the Labor Party conference that the UK's exit from the European Union (Brexit) led to "a decade of low growth that put us in a weaker position"
He said, "We will not give Britain the clear path it needs for the rest of this century until we decide to establish a long-term relationship with the entity that remains our largest market"
The summit with the bloc was scheduled to be held in July in Brussels, but it was delayed by the resignation of former Prime Minister Keir Starmer as leader of the Labor Party, to be replaced by Burnham.
The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that November 20 was tentatively set as the date for the summit, but the date has not yet been confirmed.
Know more about this story?Send us a tip
Ask about this report — answers stay grounded in its text.
