British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declared that Brexit has done more harm than good, while reaffirming support for Ukraine and NATO as he used his first Labour conference speech as leader to set out a new direction for Britain.
Speaking in Liverpool on Tuesday, Burnham placed Brexit alongside what he described as decades of damaging economic decisions and signalled that his government would examine options for a closer long-term relationship with the European Union.
The speech offered some of the clearest indications yet of how Burnham intends to reposition Britain internationally after taking office in July, while maintaining continuity on key security commitments.
Burnham said Brexit had damaged economic growth and argued that leaving the EU had failed to deliver one of the central promises made by supporters of the 2016 Leave campaign: greater control over immigration.
He said Brexit had done “more harm than good” and suggested Britain had ended up with less control over immigration rather than more.
Burnham stopped short of committing Britain to rejoining the EU, its single market or customs union. Instead, he said the country needed to consider its future relationship with Europe and indicated that different options would be examined.
The shift is potentially significant for Britain’s relations with its largest trading partner. Burnham has already said a decade of low growth was partly a result of Brexit, while his government faces pressure from within Labour to abandon some of the restrictions it inherited from former Prime Minister Keir Starmer on closer EU integration.
A forthcoming UK-EU summit could provide the first indication of how far Burnham is prepared to go.
On security, Burnham sought to reassure Britain’s allies that his criticism of the country’s recent political direction would not mean a retreat from its international commitments.
He reaffirmed Britain’s support for Ukraine as it continues to fight Russia’s invasion and maintained the government’s commitment to NATO and strengthening national defence.
The position continues the approach Burnham has taken since entering Downing Street. Ukraine was the destination for his first overseas visit as prime minister in August, when he said British support would not waver and that “Ukraine’s security is our security”.
Britain has also remained closely involved in European efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s long-term security and deter further Russian aggression.
The issue has become increasingly pressing amid concern across Europe over Russian military and hybrid activity. NATO members are simultaneously under pressure to increase defence spending and take greater responsibility for European security.
Burnham also addressed the war in Gaza, reiterating Britain’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He presented that position as part of Britain’s wider international role, while maintaining support for Israel’s security and condemning the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023.
The reference is significant internationally as Burnham seeks to define his government’s approach to the Middle East following months of pressure within the Labour Party over Gaza.
His government has already taken a tougher approach towards the Israeli government, including measures targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Burnham has nevertheless sought to balance criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza with support for Israel’s security and opposition to threats from Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said regional issues should be res...
U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and officials from m...
Iran and Russia renewed calls for diplomatic solutions to end the ongoing regional&nb...
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for continuing to target Russia's energy infrastructure, while Russian strikes on Kyiv overnight killed at least one person and damaged a metro station.
The day after waiving sanctions and tariffs related to Russian exports, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he has yet to announce a final decision on the matter as Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials want more time to evaluate the situation.
A Saudi AH-6i helicopter crashed in the Najran region of Saudi Arabia due to a technical malfunction, killing its two crew members, the Saudi-led coalition's spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki said in a statement on Sunday.
French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the violence, looting and vandalism that erupted during cost-of-living protests across France. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held crisis talks on Monday, calling for partial curfews and raising the possibility of a state of emergency.
An oil tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said late Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and officials from major European nations and NATO in Norway this week for talks about ending the war in Ukraine. He is also set to travel to Russia to speak to Vladimir Putin.
Canada’s oil-rich province of Alberta voted in a non-binding referendum on separation on Monday, 19 October, amid economic grievances and tensions with Ottawa. While polls suggest most residents oppose independence, analysts say the separatist movement could persist regardless of the outcome.
The U.S. and five Central Asian nations have held high-level talks in Samarkand, focusing on trade, investment and regional security as Washington seeks to strengthen its presence in the strategically important region.
French authorities imposed local curfews in parts of Paris, Lille and Nice on Monday after a weekend of riots and looting linked to nationwide anti-government protests, as the government faced mounting criticism over security failures.
Torrential rain and flooding in eastern Spain have killed at least four people, forced thousands to evacuate and left tens of thousands of residents under shelter-in-place orders, as emergency crews rescued people stranded on rooftops.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment