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UK PM Burnham opens door to rejoining EU; France and Spain say 'welcome back'

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Neutral summary

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reopened the debate on Britain's relationship with the European Union, saying in an interview on Wednesday, 30 September, that rejoining the bloc is among the options the UK should consider — a move no British prime minister has made since Brexit. Speaking at the Labour Party conference on Tuesday, Burnham, who campaigned for Remain in the 2016 referendum, argued that Brexit had not delivered on its promise to 'take back control', particularly over immigration, and had brought more harm than good. His comments drew a warm response from European leaders: French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at a press conference in Madrid after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's first state visit, called a potential UK return 'excellent news' and 'a good decision', adding 'welcome back', while Sánchez said Britain would be received 'with open arms'. The European Commission said it was up to London to define how it wants to develop its relationship with the bloc. According to The Guardian, senior Downing Street officials have been reaching out to think tanks and pollsters to gauge public support for rejoining, and The Independent reports that a second Brexit referendum is being considered. However, iNews reports that some Cabinet colleagues and Red Wall MPs have warned Burnham about the risks of free movement and said there is 'no appetite' for rejoining.

How it was framed

Outlets: 96. Countries: 28. Facts in the shared core: 4.

Publication timeline

  1. · City AM (outlet profile)

    Burnham to pledge greater control of water and energy industries. Andy Burnham will double down on plans to seize greater public control of the water, energy and transport industries tomorrow as he pledges to “bre…

  2. · LabourList (outlet profile)

    Burnham to pledge end to ‘politics as usual’ in conference speech. Prime Minister Andy Burnham will pledge to make a break with “politics as usual” in his first party… The post Burnham to pledge end to…

  3. · Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)

    Burnham vows to end ‘politics as usual’ in first Labour leader conference speech

  4. · Evening Standard (outlet profile)

    Burnham vows to end ‘politics as usual’ in first Labour leader conference speech. Prime Minister Andy Burnham will tell the Labour Party conference his plan can ‘turn Britain around’.

  5. · Daily Mail (outlet profile)

    Burnham to vow public control of energy, water and housing while signalling end of pension triple lock in conference speech. In the most Left-wing speech delivered by a modern British prime minister, Mr Burnham will tel…

  6. · GB News (outlet profile)

    Andy Burnham to signal END of state pension triple lock and warn Britons: 'We can't carry on!'. Andy Burnham is expected to signal an end to the state pension triple lock in a bombshell announcement today. In his speech…

  7. · The New York Times (outlet profile)

    Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Labour Conference Speech Will Aim to Reset UK Mood. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to lay out his policy plans in an address on Tuesday at the Labour Party’s annual conference.

  8. · Daily Express (outlet profile)

    Politics LIVE: Fears Andy Burnham will use Labour speech to axe State Pension triple lock. Fears are growing that Andy Burnham will use his Labour Conference speech to signal an end to the State Pension triple lock, spa…

  9. · Daily Mail (outlet profile)

    DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Labour is betraying Britain by caving in to its Leftist factions. As each new speaker sauntered on to the stage at Labour's party conference yesterday, the dire implications of Andy Burnham's coup be…

  10. · The Mirror (outlet profile)

    Labour conference - live: Triple lock pension 'could be reviewed' as Andy Burnham prepares biggest speech yet. Andy Burnham will address the Labour Party conference in Liverpool today pledging to tackle issues that poli…

  11. · GB News (outlet profile)

    Andy Burnham risks Labour row as scrapping of triple lock dubbed 'electoral suicide and absolute disaster'. Andy Burnham has risked a Labour row over growing opposition to any plan to scrap the state pension triple lock…

  12. · City AM (outlet profile)

    Burnham set to signal end of triple lock in conference speech. Andy Burnham is set to signal the end of the triple lock on pensions in his maiden conference speech as Prime Minister, in a move that is likely to divide t…

  13. · The Independent (outlet profile)

    Minister refuses to rule out scrapping state pension triple lock. Despite being pressed on it by broadcasters, the education secretary would not say whether Mr Burnham and chancellor John Healey are considering ending t…

  14. · The National (Scotland) (outlet profile)

    Andy Burnham set to signal end of pensions triple lock in Labour conference speech. ANDY Burnham is reportedly set to signal the end of the pensions triple lock in his first leader’s speech at the Labour Party conferenc…

  15. · Daily Mail (outlet profile)

    Will Burnham choose PIP over pensioners? PM could signal end of 'triple lock' in Labour speech vowing nationalisations… but go soft on benefits. Andy Burnham is promising to flesh out his plan for an NHS-style social ca…

  16. · The Mirror (outlet profile)

    What is the triple lock pension? Everything to know as Andy Burnham hints at social care reform. The state pension triple lock has become a political albatross in the years since it was introduced due to its cost and pe…

  17. · The National (Scotland) (outlet profile)

    How to watch Andy Burnham's first leader speech at Labour conference. ANDY Burnham will pledge to tackle the issues politicians “usually avoid” in his first leader’s speech at the Labour Party conference ...

  18. · The Independent (outlet profile)

    What time is Andy Burnham’s speech at Labour conference today?. The prime minister is set to rally against ‘politics-as-usual’ in his address

  19. · The Mirror (outlet profile)

    Should state pension triple lock be sacrificed for universal free social care? Take our poll and have your say. Andy Burnham is expected to float the possibility of scrapping the pension triple lock after the general el…

  20. · City AM (outlet profile)

    Why is Burnham set to turn against the triple lock?. The controversial pension triple lock is reportedly set to face the axe as Andy Burnham looks to pare back one of the biggest areas of government spending to fund his…

  21. · GB News (outlet profile)

    Good luck trying to scrap the triple lock on pensions, Andy Burnham. On a visit to Hong Kong, I got the cultural shock of my life when I came across the practice of bone picking. Because land is at a premium in our form…

  22. · Daily Express (outlet profile)

    Angela Rayner breaks silence on Burnham triple lock row. Angela Rayner has backed Andy Burnham's "brave" move to debate scrapping the state pension triple lock despite union warnings that it is "morally wrong".

  23. · Daily Express (outlet profile)

    Andy Burnham may be about to hand the next election to Kemi Badenoch. ANALYSIS - DAVID WILLIAMSON: Kemi Badenoch will have her best chance of becoming PM if she goes into the next election with a pledge to keep the trip…

  24. · Evening Standard (outlet profile)

    What is the triple lock on state pensions and why has it been controversial?. Speculation has mounted that the state pension triple lock could eventually be reformed to help fund social care.

  25. · Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)

    What is the triple lock on state pensions and why has it been controversial?

  26. · The Independent (outlet profile)

    What is the triple lock on state pensions and why has it been controversial?. Speculation has mounted that the state pension triple lock could eventually be reformed to help fund social care.

  27. · GB News (outlet profile)

    Lucy Powell insists Labour are ‘committed to the triple lock’ amid fear Andy Burnham will scrap pension protections. Lucy Powell has insisted Labour is “committed to the triple lock” amid fears Andy Burnham will scrap t…

  28. · GB News (outlet profile)

    Angela Rayner hints at a more radical Labour as she takes swipe at Nigel Farage over donations: 'Just imagine what he'd do for £70million!'. Angela Rayner has outlined her vision for a more radical Labour Party as she l…

  29. · Daily Maverick (outlet profile)

    Burnham offers Britain an ‘honest conversation’ on tackling problems. Andy Burnham will offer on Tuesday an "honest conversation" with Britain to spell out the trade-offs in tackling some of the nation's deepest problem…

  30. · iNews (outlet profile)

    Is it time to scrap the state pension triple lock? The i Paper writers’ verdicts. Andy Burnham is reportedly planning to start a conversation about the triple lock – and he may have picked the right moment

Factual core

  • UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is open to proposing that the UK rejoin the EU.
  • Burnham made the statement at the Labour Party conference.
  • Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, will deliver his first Labour leader conference speech.
  • The British Prime Minister's statement suggests a possible return of the UK to the EU.

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In the daily issue: The day in brief — September 30, 2026

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