Guardian Editorial: Burnham Should Pursue Bolder UK-EU Relations Given Public Opinion Against Brexit
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/editorial. "The Guardian view on UK-EU relations: voters would reward greater ambition | Editorial | The Guardian." September 9, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
The Guardian argues that since most Brits now think Brexit was a mistake and want closer ties with Europe, new PM Andy Burnham should be bold and push hard for better UK-EU relations. The editorial says even Brexit's own champions won't defend it anymore, and with Trump destabilizing international alliances, there's both public support and strategic necessity for the UK to move closer to Europe.
Conclusion
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has a political mandate and strategic imperative to pursue a bolder, more ambitious agenda for closer UK-EU relations
Premises
- Public opinion polling shows a majority (57%) now view Brexit as more of a failure than a success, with only 21% disagreeing
- There are clear majorities in favor of closer UK-EU ties on trade, defense, health policy, and youth mobility schemes
- Even architects and defenders of Brexit (like Farage) avoid celebrating or discussing its outcomes, implicitly acknowledging its failure
- The existing 'reset' process with the EU has been advancing too slowly, hampered by lack of political urgency and self-imposed manifesto constraints
- Donald Trump's actions against the transatlantic alliance and international trading system make closer UK-EU cooperation increasingly strategically necessary
- Without strong political will from No 10, institutional inertia and EU reluctance (given current deal favors Brussels) will prevent progress
Assumptions
- Public dissatisfaction with Brexit outcomes translates into political permission/reward for closer EU ties, even without appetite for full reversal
- Political leaders should follow shifts in public opinion when crafting foreign policy positions
- Burnham has the individual agency and political capital to overcome inertia and Labour's manifesto constraints
- The EU would be receptive to increased UK ambition despite having favorable terms under the current arrangement
- Strategic imperatives created by Trump's actions are widely understood and accepted by the British public
- Bolder UK-EU engagement is achievable within Labour's existing manifesto limits (no single market/customs union membership)