Prominent Labour Party leadership contenders Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting have signaled their intentions to seek a fresh mandate to rejoin the European Union if elected to lead the party. Speaking at a conference on Saturday, May 16, 2026, Streeting explicitly advocated for a reversal of Brexit, labeling the UK`s departure from the trading bloc a catastrophic mistake. Concurrently, allies of Burnham confirmed that the Greater Manchester mayor maintains his long-held ambition to see the nation reintegrated into Europe over the long term.
This strategic shift threatens to reopen deep political divisions surrounding Brexit.
Burnham is currently positioning himself for the upcoming Makerfield by-election, a crucial step before launching a formal bid to succeed Prime Minister Keir Starmer. While his team emphasized that he fully respects the original democratic decision of the British electorate, they acknowledged that rejoining the bloc would require an explicit endorsement in a future general election manifesto. In addition to his European stance, Burnham outlined plans for mass nationalization, arguing that the deregulation policies of the past four decades stripped the public of necessary control over energy, housing, water, and transportation infrastructure.
Streeting, who recently resigned from the Cabinet, delivered his remarks to the Labour pressure group Progress, framing the shift as a necessity within the geopolitical landscape of 2026. He argued that facing shared global security threats such as Russian hostility and shifting American trade policies requires closer continental alignment to rebuild the domestic economy. The declarations immediately provoked a sharp backlash across the political spectrum. Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake criticized the contenders, stating that Britain is left ungoverned while Labour figures continue to re-litigate past constitutional decisions.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage condemned the proposals, labeling Burnham a disaster for the economy and attempting to leverage the comments in the Makerfield constituency. Opposition also emerged from within Labour`s own ranks, with backbench MPs like Dan Carden and Jon Trickett insisting the party must honor the sovereign democratic freedoms gained from Brexit rather than expressing defeatism. Furthermore, Blue Labour peer Lord Glasman urged the party to recognize that national sovereignty and strong border management remain critical to restoring national pride, pointing out that the European economy is currently facing stagnation.
