Five challenges facing Andy Burnham as he seeks closer ties with the EU

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is seeking closer ties with the EU as he prepares to attend a European Political Community summit in Dublin and then a UK-EU summit in Brussels. The effort could test his leadership: he is bound by Labour’s 2024 pledges to remain outside the EU, single market and customs union, while also saying he would like Britain to rejoin the EU within his lifetime.

Former officials identify five obstacles: potential damage to public trust, disagreement with Chancellor John Healey, uncertainty over support in Parliament, divisions within the Cabinet and the risk of entering negotiations without a clear strategy. Healey has said he does not expect Britain to rejoin the EU in his lifetime and rejected claims that rejoining the single market would boost growth; the Treasury later said his remarks were a joke. The article says 15 ministers are understood to favour rejoining, while 13 are undecided or opposed, and some Labour MPs warn that reopening Brexit could alienate voters in Leave-voting areas.