Cameron warns Burnham against pushing for EU rejoining

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 12 Nov, 00:14 · Archive

Former prime minister David Cameron has warned against attempts to rejoin the EU, saying the UK should instead focus on being the EU's 'best friend' and partner.

Former prime minister David Cameron has warned Prime Minister Andy Burnham against pursuing UK rejoining of the EU. Speaking to Bloomberg, Cameron said starting such a conversation would be a 'very long and painful argument', and urged the government instead to focus on being the EU's 'best friend, best neighbour, best partner'.

Cameron left office after leading the unsuccessful Remain campaign in the 2016 EU referendum. He said he was 'desperately disappointed' when British voters chose to leave the EU by 52% to 48%. However, he emphasised that he was 'a believer in democracy' and the right course now was to strengthen Britain's relationship with the bloc from outside its membership.

The warning comes ahead of Prime Minister Burnham's meetings with European leaders this week. Burnham has previously expressed a desire to see the UK rejoin the EU in his lifetime and has said he will explore 'different options' for Britain's long-term relationship with the bloc. He is due to meet EU leaders and sign agreements he claims could boost GDP by 0.4%, covering agriculture, emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme.

Cameron also rejected suggestions the UK should rejoin the EU's customs union, saying it was not the 'right answer'. He warned that 'flirting with rejoining' could hamper efforts to secure a better deal, because EU countries might feel there was no point in offering concessions if the UK aimed to rejoin anyway.

Cameron also told Bloomberg that the UK's current economic problems had 'nothing to do with Brexit at all'. Opinion polls suggest that support for EU rejoining is growing among UK voters.

How it is being reported

• Warning from an unlikely source: As Burnham's sovereignty surrender begins today - Cameron tells the PM not to rejoin the EUAs the Prime Minister prepares to sell his Brexit betrayal to European leaders today, his predecessor, an arch-Remainer, warned against triggering another debate.Daily Mail · 12 Nov, 00:09
• He triggered Brexit. Now Lord Cameron warns Burnham against rejoining EUAndy Burnham has spoken about ‘exploring options’ when it comes to the UK’s long-term relationship with the EUThe Independent · 11 Nov, 18:44
• David Cameron warns Andy Burnham not to seek to rejoin the EU and tells PM that Brexit 'has nothing to do with UK's economic woes'In a major intervention ahead of Mr Burnham's upcoming talks with European leaders, Lord Cameron warned against reopening a 'painful argument' over EU membership.Daily Mail · 11 Nov, 17:53
• 'He Should Shut Up': David Cameron Roasted For Saying UK Should Not Rejoin The EUDavid Cameron has been criticised after saying the UK should not rejoin the European Union . The former Conservative prime minister – who was forced to quit following the 2016 Brexit referendum – said the government should instead focus on being “the best friend, best neighbour, best partner” to Brussels. Andy Burnham has spoken extensively about his desire to build closer ties between Britain and the EU, and has not ruled out the possibility of Brexit eventually being overturned. But speaking to Bloomberg , Cameron said: “Instead of launching an argument about rejoining, which I think would…HuffPost UK · 11 Nov, 17:00

In this story: David Cameron · Andy Burnham · European Union · UK · Brussels · Dublin

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log