Brexit: France says Britain can rejoin EU anytime

Brexit need not be final, the French finance minister said, telling Britain it can rejoin the European Union anytime it chooses.

Roland Lescure made the offer in an interview with a British broadcaster on Thursday. His remarks came after Prime Minister Andy Burnham said a vote on rejoining the bloc was possible in a future Labour election manifesto.

“British people decided, and that’s obviously their 100% right,” Lescure said. The choice to return would also belong to them, he added. “But what I can tell them is: come back, anytime.”

Lescure acknowledged that membership brings some difficulties. Still, he argued that being inside the bloc helps countries deal better with the challenges facing the world.

How Burnham revived the Brexit debate

Last week, Burnham said Britain needed to weigh its options. These ranged from keeping current arrangements, to joining a customs union or the single market, to going “all the way” with full membership. Ministers would study what was realistic and the pros and cons of each path, he said.

In his first Labour conference speech as prime minister, Burnham said Brexit had done “more harm than good.” He did not rule out fighting the next general election on a promise to rejoin without a referendum. Instead, he said a vote could follow if public opinion pointed that way.

His instincts, he said, told him that “it is better to be closer” to Europe given the threats around the world. Burnham plans to set out the options around the time of a summit between Britain and the EU, which he said would take place in November.

French President Emmanuel Macron also welcomed the move, saying “welcome back” in English at a joint press conference. Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he would greet Britain with open arms.

Made in Europe rules

Burnham has also warned that planned EU rules to support European manufacturers could hurt Britain. The Made in Europe scheme aims to shield the industry of the bloc from Chinese rivals. It would give firms inside the EU priority for public contracts and subsidies. Car makers in the EU, however, want Britain included to avoid disruption to their supply chains.

Asked whether the scheme could leave Britain out, Lescure offered a simple answer. “Come back, and you’ll be at the table,” he said.

On Thursday, Burnham travelled to Berlin for his first face-to-face talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Defence and security topped their agenda, while ties between Britain and the EU also featured.

Not everyone welcomed the renewed debate. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Burnham had handed his party a political gift by reviving the Brexit question. He brushed aside polls putting support for rejoining as high as 59%. That backing would fade, he argued, once voters learned about the cost and the possible need to adopt the euro and join the Schengen area. On the other side, Naomi Smith, who heads the pro-EU group Best for Britain, said rejoining would lift GDP by £92bn.