Burnham reopens divisive debate on rejoining EU

LONDON, Sept 30: Andy Burnham put the idea of Britain rejoining the EU on the table Wednesday, breaking a taboo for a UK prime minister and reopening the divisive Brexit debate.

Burnham said his centre-left Labour government could go "all the way" and propose membership of the bloc after weighing the "pros and cons" of different possible relationships with Europe.

Right-wing rivals immediately criticised the comments, as the UK appeared to be gearing up for a re-run of the bitter "Brexit wars" that dominated politics following the contentious 2016 vote to leave the European Union.

Burnham, premier since July after Labour MPs turfed out Keir Starmer, told his party's annual conference on Tuesday that Britain's departure in 2020 had done "more harm than good".�"AFP