Why Brexit will define Burnham’s relationship with Europe

This Is Why · Jun 23, 2026 · 20m

A decade to the day since the Brexit referendum, the European Union has postponed a proposed summit to reset the UK’s relationship with Europe.

Following the fall of the Starmer premiership, Brussels will now wait and see what a new Labour leader – likely to be Andy Burnham – wants to achieve from any potential EU negotiation.

But as every prime minister over the past 10 years has discovered, trying to reshape those relations from outside the union is fraught with political danger.

Will a Burnham Number 10 seek to strengthen ties with Europe? Could he call for a customs union - and be willing…