British Prime Minister Andy Burnham officially reintroduced the possibility of the United Kingdom rejoining the European Union on Wednesday, shattering a long-standing political taboo and reawakening one of the nation’s most polarizing issues.
During an interview with FRANCE 24’s Monte Francis, Catherine Barnard, a Professor of European Law at the University of Cambridge, analyzed the Prime Minister’s unprecedented stance. She noted that Burnham appears to be signaling a shift in tone, suggesting that the reality of life outside the bloc has proven less favorable than anticipated.
“He is sending the message that actually it’s been pretty cold being on the outside of the EU so we’re now looking at the alternatives,” Barnard observed, highlighting how the government’s rhetoric indicates a reconsideration of past decisions.
Rejoining sounds nice in theory, but what about the sovereignty concerns? This won’t be an easy pill for Leavers to swallow.
Finally, someone with the courage to say what many are thinking. The post-Brexit reality has been harsh.