Burnham hints UK could rejoin EU | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated that his government may consider rejoining the European Union.

Burnham told the BBC on Wednesday that Britain's withdrawal from the EU has done "more harm than good."

He said the same thing at a Labour Party conference the previous day.

He also told the BBC that his government will "give people options that they can look at and judge."

Burnham raised one option under which Britain would stay as it is and another under which the country would rejoin the single market, which allows the free movement of goods, capital, services and people. He added, "We could go all the way."

Last year, Burnham said he hoped to see Britain rejoin the EU in his lifetime. But he later indicated he would respect the result of the 2016 referendum.

Opposition parties criticized Burnham following his latest comments. Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said in a social media post: "Talk is cheap. Burnham must stop with all the 'maybes' and get negotiating that better deal for Britain today." A senior member of Reform UK said Burnham is "sucking up to bungling" EU bureaucrats.

The BBC said a possible move to rejoin the EU "could set up a huge dividing line at the next general election."