Tony Blair urges Labour to consider rejoining EU within a decade

Tony Blair has called on the Labour Party to commit to rejoining the European Union within a decade. The former Prime Minister suggested that Andy Burnham should abandon Labour's current red lines and negotiate with Brussels for a new formal relationship. In a foreword to a report from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), he stated that 'everything is on the table' regarding negotiations, including free movement, as there is 'no point in inching towards Europe'. Blair emphasized the need for a new approach to the UK's relationship with the EU, arguing that the red lines established in 2016 are no longer relevant in 2026. He stated, 'We should be clear that we want back into a formal relationship with the EU.' Blair also insisted that rejoining should be contingent upon EU reforms, stating that it would be inappropriate to return to a straightforward membership of the single market and customs union without changes in the EU. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood responded, indicating that Labour should focus on future proposals rather than revisiting past debates. Earlier this year, Blair had cautioned that the UK was 'too weak' to discuss rejoining the EU, but the TBI report now urges Burnham to make a pledge to rejoin a reformed EU a central part of the UK government's upcoming ten-year plan. The report suggests that the UK should engage with the EU on collaborative projects, including AI, cyber-resilience, defense, and energy, while advocating for a shared energy hub in the North Sea. The report concludes that for Britain to play a significant role in a reformed Europe, it must demonstrate a political commitment to the EU, including a public objective to rejoin within a decade, subject to internal reforms. Burnham has previously expressed hope that the UK would rejoin the EU within his lifetime, and while he has not ruled out including a commitment to rejoin in the next Labour manifesto, he emphasized the need to focus on a new deal that would benefit the British economy.