UK business secretary warns EU rejoin push risks creating uncertainty
UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has warned that efforts to push Britain back toward EU membership could create uncertainty for businesses, as the issue gains traction within the governing Labour Party.
Britain's Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has warned that campaigns pressing the UK to rejoin the European Union risk generating uncertainty for the business community. The warning comes as debate over the country's future relationship with Brussels intensifies within the ruling Labour Party.
Blair presses Burnham
One of the clearest signs of this internal debate has been former prime minister Tony Blair's public call on Greater Manchester mayor and Labour figure Andy Burnham to back a UK return to a reformed European Union. Blair argued that Brussels would need to be on a "credible path to reform" before rejoining could realistically happen.
The intervention underscores how the EU question is re-emerging as a dividing line within Labour, with different factions holding differing views on how far the UK should go in rebuilding ties with the bloc after Brexit.
Labour conference backdrop
The issue is expected to feature prominently at Labour's 2026 annual conference, the first held with Burnham in a leadership role within the party's internal dynamics. Observers are watching closely how party leadership balances internal pressure to move closer to the EU against the government's official position, as voiced by ministers such as Reynolds.
Reynolds' warning signals that the government is maintaining a cautious stance on any rapid or expansive move toward EU membership, stressing the risks such a political shift could pose to economic and business stability. At the same time, pressure continues from party figures like Blair, who are calling for a clearer and more far-reaching approach to relations with Brussels.
