Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in an interview released Wednesday (September 30) Britain should consider options for its future relationship with the European Union, including ultimately rejoining the bloc, as he steps up efforts to rebuild ties with Europe.

Speaking to the BBC after telling the Labour Party's annual conference that Brexit had "done more harm than good", Burnham said Britain should examine different models for its long-term relationship with Europe and decide which offered the best path forward.

"We could stay as we are. That's definitely an option, if people think this is the right place to stay," Burnham told the broadcaster.

"We could look at what George Osborne has said about a customs union. We could look at what the Liberal Democrats said at their conference about single market, or we could go all the way."

Osborne, a former Conservative finance minister, has argued that Britain should pursue a customs union with the EU, while the Liberal Democrats have called for Britain to rejoin the bloc's single market.

Burnham said the options should be assessed based on "what is doable" and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Britain voted to leave the European Union in 2016, ending more than four decades of membership and triggering years of political upheaval, with successive governments grappling with the economic and diplomatic consequences of that vote.

Earlier on Tuesday (September 29), Burnham said he would use a November UK-EU summit to outline options for Britain's long-term relationship with the bloc.

Burnham, who replaced Keir Starmer in July, has previously said he would like Britain to rejoin the European Union in his lifetime. He has argued that Britain could not afford another decade of uncertainty over the issue.

"I am very clear, and I will say this bluntly: Brexit has caused more harm than good," he said. "So the question is, what do we do about that?"

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 29, 2026) (BBC - No use UK)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, ANDY BURNHAM, SAYING:

"I am very clear, and I will say this bluntly: Brexit has caused more harm than good. And I think around 60% of the British public agree with that statement. So the question is, what do we do about that? And I'm not doing the usual politician thing. I'm being honest about facing up to that and give people options that they can look at and judge."

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, ANDY BURNHAM, SAYING:

"We need to understand what would be the nature of how we would look at the different options. So 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 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."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, ANDY BURNHAM, SAYING:

"We have to look at what is doable and what would be the pros and cons of each. What I am saying is, it's not good enough to leave that question just hanging. I am saying, let's be clear about where we want Britain to go in the next decade."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, ANDY BURNHAM, SAYING:

"It's a first big move to enable the introduction of a national care service. It's a very significant decision. Every predecessor in the role that I am in has not grasped this nettle. I am ripping the plaster off. I am going to fix social care. I will not leave office without doing it."

8. WHITE FLASH

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, ANDY BURNHAM, SAYING:

"The current triple lock works on the basis every year, which is highest, that's what the pension goes up by. And what that is doing is it's taking it up quite quickly and by 2030 it will be a record level. The adjustment I'm suggesting is that earnings should be considered over a longer time frame, over the years, not every year, and then that would maintain the pension but it wouldn't put us in the position that the triple lock has us in at this moment in time."

10. WHITE FLASH

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, ANDY BURNHAM, SAYING:

"The Middle East situation needs to command a lot of our attention. I met the President of the United States last week. We spoke about this situation. Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is an urgent international priority. We've got to work at all of these things. The reason, the main driver of that crisis is beyond our control, but we can contribute to solving that situation, and that is what I've been doing as Prime Minister."

12. WHITE FLASH

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, ANDY BURNHAM, SAYING:

"In an era of five-party politics, can we really watch a party with less than 30% just walking to Downing Street? Is that something we should feel comfortable about? (INTERVIEWER OFF CAMERA: "In other words, you want to stop Nigel Farage becoming Prime Minister?) No, it could happen with any political party. It's whether that would be a legitimate government."

14. WHITE FLASH

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, ANDY BURNHAM, SAYING:

"I believe part of Britain building back from where we are now is getting rid of the turbulence, putting down a stronger platform that gives people more certainty to invest in this country through the reform of our politics, and probably it's the five-party reality that we're in now that brings that issue forward."