Boost for Burnham as poll shows half of UK supports rejoining EU

Almost half of all UK voters support rejoining the European Union, according to a new megapoll which will boost Andy Burnham over the Brexit debate.

Rejoining the EU was favoured by 49 per cent of 11,461 people polled by the Messina Group, compared to the 28.5 per cent against, as reported inThe Guardian.

The poll also found that renegotiating the UK’s relationship with the EU could boost Labour’s vote share by as much as seven points, with most votes shifting from the Greens and Liberal Democrats for all scenarios that resulted in closer ties.

It comes days after the prime minister acknowledged he could go “all the way” and propose rejoining the EU as he considers the UK’s future relationship with Brussels. He also suggested it is “possible” Labour’s next election manifesto could include an in-out referendum.

The poll looked at a number of options for relationships with the UK. The second most popular was to keep the existing relationship but cut as many trade barriers as possible with 48.2 per cent showing support and 20.9 per cent against. A customs union came next – as called for by former Tory Chancellor George Osborne during an interview with The Independent earlier this month – with 47.1 per cent in favour and 20.7 per cent not, according to the report.

Almost a third of voters in the poll, which involved UK adults who were asked between 12 and 24 September, said an in-out referendum would be needed before rejoining the EU, while more than one in six felt a general election mandate would be sufficient, the paper reported. The same proportion thought parliament could make the decision.

More than a quarter (25.9 per cent) said they wanted the UK to rejoin the EU immediately. A slightly lower proportion (22.9 per cent) said it should happen in the next three years and 8.4 per cent opted for over the next decade.

The Independent has led the campaign for Britain to rebuild its relationship with Brussels on the basis of clear evidence that it has damaged the economy and failed to deliver promised benefits on a wide range of issues including immigration.

During his first Labour Party conference speech, Mr Burnham said that Brexit had done “more harm than good” and promised to set out the options to the country around the time of a UK-EU summit, which he said would be in November.

He insisted “this isn’t about leaping to a referendum” as he seeks to find a political consensus on the UK’s future relationship with Brussels.

But, he said, if public opinion is “pointing towards” backing re-entry into the bloc, he could commit to holding a vote on the issue in the next manifesto.

He also declined to rule out skipping a referendum and fighting the next general election on a promise to rejoin.

Nigel Farage called the prime minister’s decision to reignite the Brexit debate a “very big political mistake”. The Reform UK, leader, who was a key proponent of Brexit ahead of the 2016 referendum, said on Thursday the Labour leader’s position on Brussels was at odds with his interest in devolution.

“This is the pro-devolution prime minister,” Mr Farage told reporters.

“To even consider rejoining the single market, the customs union, let alone the European Union itself, is the opposite of devolution – a massive transfer of huge powers up to an authority, whereby there’s nothing Parliament could do to change any of it.

“So I find the whole thing totally contradictory.”

He warned Mr Burnham had “opened the door to Reform in the most extraordinary way” by promising to look at options for Britain’s future relationship with the European Union.

Meanwhile, French president Emmanuel Macron and Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez, speaking at a joint press conference in Madrid, welcomed Mr Burbham’s remarks.

Mr Macron said it was “very good news” for both the UK and Europe, quipping: “Welcome back.”

Mr Sanchez said Brexit was a “huge loss” for the UK population and the EU project, and that Spain would “open its arms” to the UK if it decided to rejoin.

As prime minister Andy Burnham looks at the way ahead for Britain's relationship with Europe, The Independent has been leading the charge, campaigning to secure the absolute best deal for Britain. Become an Independent member for just £1 for six months and join a like-minded community of thousands signed up to our Europe: The Way Back campaign.

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