Andy Burnham says rejoining the EU among all ‘the options’ being considered – UK politics live

The prime minister says he wants to open a debate about the UK’s future relationship with Europe

Wed 30 Sep 2026 02.49 EDT

Last modified on Wed 30 Sep 2026 02.58 EDT

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Good morning. Andy Burnham’s speech is getting a mixed review in the papers, but there is general consensus that it is a consequential one – not one that we will have forgotten within a fortnight or so, but one that will make the next list of all-time important Labour conference speeches of the last 50 years.

If you are still catching up, here are three good places to start.

Pippa Crerar’s overnight splash for the Guardian.

Rafael Behr’s take in comment.

The Guardian’s view in its editorial.

The conference wraps up today, with four cabinet ministers speaking. But much of the attention will be on digesting the significance of what the PM said yesterday.

Burnham has given a series of interviews which are playing out this morning. Speaking to the Today programme, Burnham confirmed that, when he told delegates yesterday he would be looking at ways of having a better relationship with the EU, rejoining would be one of the options.

Burnham said:

We could stay as we are. That’s definitely an option, if people think this is the right place to stay. We could look at what [former Conservative chancellor] George Osborne has said about a customs union, we could look at what the Liberal Democrats said at their conference about the single market or we could go all the way. There are clearly options that need to be considered, and we have to look at what is doable and what would be the pros and cons of each.

I will post more from his interviews soon.

Here is the agenda for the day.

9.30am: The conference opens.

9.45am: Angela Eagle, the environment secretary, speaks.

10.15am: Yvette Cooper, the health secretary, speaks.

11.10am: Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, speaks.

12.10pm: Lucy Powell, the deputy leader, gives the final speech of the conference.

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