Former Prime Minister David Cameron advised Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham on Wednesday, November 11, against initiating a new public debate regarding the United Kingdom rejoining the European Union. Lord Cameron, who resigned after the 2016 referendum, described the prospect of rejoining as a "very long and painful" process. He argued that the U.K. should instead focus on being a "best partner" to the bloc under existing arrangements.
The comments follow reports that Mr. Burnham is scheduled to travel to Brussels next week to meet with EU leaders. The mayor intends to sign agreements related to agriculture, emissions trading, and youth mobility, which he stated could increase the U.K.’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 0.4%. Mr. Burnham has indicated that following this summit, the U.K. will "explore options" for its long-term relationship with the EU.
Lord Cameron told Bloomberg that while he was "desperately disappointed" by the 2016 Brexit vote, "flirting with rejoining" could undermine efforts to secure better terms for the current partnership. He expressed skepticism regarding a return to the customs union, attributing the U.K.'s economic challenges to overspending, regulation, and welfare costs rather than Brexit. Meanwhile, the EU’s former chief negotiator Michel Barnier stated there would be "no cherry picking" and that deeper ties would require specific trade-offs.
The shift in rhetoric from figures like Mr. Burnham indicates a move toward closer regulatory alignment with the EU, which would directly change how businesses manage emissions trading and how farmers export goods across the English Channel. If the U.K. adopts freedom of movement rules or rejoins the customs union, travelers and businesses would notice changes in border checks and labor availability. However, the Prime Minister has stated that voters will remain "the boss" of any such structural changes to the country's relationship with the bloc.
The debate sets a precedent for how regional leaders like Mr. Burnham may bypass central government friction to negotiate direct technical agreements with Brussels. The immediate next steps include Mr. Burnham's meetings in Brussels scheduled for the week of November 16, 2026. Following those meetings, the U.K. is expected to begin the process of exploring long-term relationship options, though no specific deadline for a decision on rejoining or further integration has been set.