Should the UK Be Moving Closer to the EU?

Nov 12, 2026 | The UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is gearing up for a crunch meeting in Brussels aimed at rebuilding post-Brexit ties with the European Union. The two sides are meeting for a UK-EU Summit where Burnham is seeking new agreements in a bid to move closer to Europe.

The leaders of five EU countries have written to President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to say they are in favour of a better working relationship with Britain.

Britain voted to leave the EU in 2016 and eventually left at the beginning of 2020, in a bitter divorce. After the toxic fall-out from Brexit, how far can Burnham go with the EU, without reversing Brexit and rejoining the bloc?

Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:

Adam Boulton
Political editor and Broadcaster
Mark Littlewood
Director of Popular Conservatism
Peter Holmes
International Trade Policy Economist