Andy Burnham has been cautioned against a "delusional" attempt to rejoin the European Union following renewed calls from a left-wing think tank. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has stated that Britain should make Brussels membership its "medium-term" objective, ahead of the Prime Minister outlining options for the UK's future relationship with the bloc next month.
Political Backlash Over EU Rejoin Calls
Tory frontbencher Mike Wood criticised the proposal, saying: "Calls to drag Britain back into the EU show that these Labour-friendly think tanks still haven’t learned the lessons of Brexit. Reopening old arguments about our relationship with Europe will do nothing to tackle the challenges facing families and businesses across the country today."
Senior Conservative MP Dame Priti Patel described the idea as "delusional," stating: "It is delusional to think that rejoining the EU will solve the economic challenges Britain faces today." She added that Labour's agenda of more state control and EU membership would lead to "more indecision, buck-passing, higher government spending and more taxes."
Reform's Andrew Rosindell echoed these sentiments, calling it "Brussels-obsessed nonsense from a Labour-aligned think tank that still hasn’t accepted the result of the biggest democratic vote in British history."
IPPR's Case for EU Membership
In its report, the IPPR argued that changes in global politics over the past decade mean the UK should aim to become an EU member state. The think tank's executive director, Harry Quilter-Pinner, said: "The world Britain built its post-Brexit strategy for no longer exists. We are entering an age in which economic strength, security and political influence increasingly depend on scale, and Britain cannot manufacture that scale on its own."
The IPPR admitted the Government would need time to build a case for membership, with Quilter-Pinner adding: "There is one option which is best for the UK’s relationship with Europe – membership of the EU. That does not mean announcing another referendum tomorrow. But this means starting work to move towards this destination, building political support at home and in Europe."
IPPR associate director Laura Chappell said: "Whether it’s protecting households from swings in the cost of living, restarting industry, or keeping us secure, we lack the weight to act alone. In today’s world, we can’t take back control while being an outsider in Europe."
Government Position and Next Steps
The think tank acknowledged that concerns about contributions to the EU budget and replacing the pound with the euro could hinder support for membership. The Prime Minister is due to set out options for Britain's long-term relationship with Europe at the UK-EU summit in Brussels on November 20, and has not ruled out a pledge to rejoin the EU without a referendum in Labour's next manifesto.
A government spokesman said: "The threadbare Brexit deal inherited by this government has weakened our ability to control illegal immigration, slowed growth and left businesses tangled in red tape. We are working on practical deals that pay off for British farmers and families and will support growth in every UK postcode, cutting back on paperwork and easing pressure on prices."
