Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has issued a high-profile challenge to current Labour leader Andy Burnham, urging him to abandon the party’s existing “red lines” and initiate negotiations for the United Kingdom to rejoin the European Union. The intervention, published by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, lands just days before Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool, placing significant pressure on the party’s leadership to address its long-term relationship with the bloc.
A Call for Strategic Reset
In the report’s foreword, Blair argues that rejoining the EU should serve as the “cornerstone” of the UK government’s ten-year planning. He explicitly advises Burnham against being constrained by current public opinion, suggesting that the party should put “everything on the table” during negotiations. Notably, Blair suggests that such a shift could be pursued without the need for a new referendum, a position that contrasts sharply with the cautious approach currently adopted by the Labour leadership.
Andy Burnham, who assumed the party leadership recently, has previously expressed pro-EU sentiments but has steered clear of committing to a reversal of Brexit. While speaking in New York at the United Nations this week, Burnham characterized the 2016 referendum as having been influenced by foreign interference but told reporters that any concrete plans to pursue EU membership were “for another day.”
The Political Stakes
The debate over the UK’s future with Europe is underscored by shifting voter sentiment and complex electoral arithmetic. Recent polling by YouGov for the organization Best for Britain indicates that a clear commitment to EU membership could be a pivotal factor in securing a parliamentary majority. According to the data, a pro-membership stance could net Labour 321 seats, whereas maintaining current “red lines”—which rule out rejoining the single market, customs union, or freedom of movement—could see the party’s seat count plummet to 136, resulting in a hung Parliament with Reform UK emerging as a significant force.
Despite the potential electoral advantages, the proposal faces substantial political obstacles. Critics, including segments of the press, continue to frame the “rejoin” argument as a disconnect between the political elite and the public. Furthermore, the association of the movement with a former prime minister remains a point of contention, with some analysts noting that Blair’s involvement may polarize voters who view the debate through the lens of the original 2016 divide.