Headline: Macron Says UK Would Be Welcome to Rejoin EU as Burnham Considers Future Options
Date: 1 October 2026
Tags:UK Politics, European Union, Brexit, France
Summary:
French President Emmanuel Macron said Britain seeking to rejoin the EU would be “very good news” for Europe and the UK.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also said Spain would welcome a British application to rejoin the bloc.
Macron described Brexit as the “biggest lie of the last 30 years”, criticising its economic, immigration and trade outcomes.
His comments followed Prime Minister Andy Burnham saying EU membership could be considered among Britain’s long-term options.
Burnham has said Brexit caused “more harm than good” and wants different UK-EU relationships examined.
Former Chancellor George Osborne has advocated Britain rejoining the EU customs union.
MEP Sandro Gozi welcomed Burnham’s position and called for closer economic and political cooperation between Britain and Europe.
The European Commission said Britain remains a valued partner and it is open to considering proposals from the UK Government.
Britain and the EU are scheduled to hold a delayed “reset” summit in Brussels during the second half of November.
Britain’s exclusion from the EU’s Made in Europe scheme is expected to be among issues surrounding future relations.
Why this matters: Senior European leaders are publicly discussing possible deeper UK-EU integration as the British Government reviews its long-term relationship with Europe.
What’s next: The UK and EU are expected to discuss their future relationship at the Brussels reset summit in November.
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