New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his politics might not be to everyone’s taste but, whatever one thinks of him, in his short time in office he has demonstrated a combination of boldness, vision and political astuteness. Nowhere is this more evident than in his determination to put relations with the EU back at the heart of his foreign policy agenda.
At first glance, this might look like political suicide. A decade after the British people had their say in a referendum and voted, albeit by a narrow margin, to leave the EU, few would relish revisiting the years of acrimony, both at home and with Brussels, that preceded the UK’s eventual departure at the end of 2020.
Nevertheless, contrary to the arguments of those who oppose reopening the debate on relations with the EU, two very simple realities cannot be ignored. First, Brexit has caused obvious damage to the UK economy and to its relations with its closest neighbors. Second, for any politician with sound political instincts, few issues currently enjoy greater public support than closer relations with Europe.
The implication, however, is not necessarily to jump straight into a debate about full EU membership.
