Andy Burnham's new European affairs minister, Hamish Falconer, has signalled that the UK could go further on rebuilding ties with the EU than Sir Keir Starmer's previous "reset" allowed, and has left open the possibility of eventually rejoining the bloc. This marks a shift from the tight red lines set by the last government, which explicitly ruled out rejoining the EU, its single market, its customs union, or even an ad hoc customs union, and suggests Burnham's administration may pursue a bolder approach to relations with Brussels.

Falconer, a former diplomat, made the comments in a Sky News interview, saying "this is a changed world" and that he wants to "do more" on issues including food and drink imports, border controls and electricity cooperation, after a summit to sign a reset deal was postponed this month following the change of prime minister. While immediate rejoining is not on the table, Falconer indicated it could feature as a manifesto commitment at the next election, echoing Burnham's own stated wish last September to rejoin the EU. Polling shows a majority now favour rejoining, and former prime minister Sir John Major has pointed to annual losses of £100bn in trade and £40bn in tax revenue from Brexit, though other ministers, including chancellor John Healey, continue to champion "buying British" and Brexit freedoms.