Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham, both Labour politicians positioning themselves as potential successors to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have broken from party orthodoxy by publicly advocating for UK rejoining the European Union.
Streeting, who resigned as health secretary last week and declared his candidacy for the Labour leadership, called Brexit a "catastrophic mistake" and stated the UK should rejoin the EU. Burnham, Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, echoed similar sentiments by identifying a "long-term case" for rejoining, though he stopped short of actively campaigning for immediate reentry.
Their comments represent a significant shift within the Labour Party, which has maintained a careful stance on Brexit under Starmer's leadership. The current prime minister has largely accepted the referendum result and focused on improving the UK-EU relationship through negotiation rather than pushing for full reintegration.
Both politicians' statements carry tactical weight. Streeting's leadership bid requires differentiation from Starmer, and his strong anti-Brexit positioning appeals to the party's pro-EU membership base, particularly in London and southern England where Remain sentiment remains strong. Burnham faces his own political pressure as an ambitious regional figure seeking national prominence.
The comments reflect deeper divisions within Labour about Europe. While younger urban voters and party activists favor closer EU ties, working-class constituencies in the Midlands and North, which shifted to Conservative voting partly over Brexit, remain skeptical of European integration.
A full UK rejoin remains politically unrealistic in the near term. The 2016 referendum result, despite its narrow margin, established powerful political constraints. Labour faces the dilemma of acknowledging public frustration with Brexit outcomes while avoiding the appearance of ignoring the democratic vote.
The current government has pursued softer alignment through Windsor Framework negotiations and regulatory harmonization rather than structural change. Streeting and Burnham's rhetoric