No 10 Downplays Idea of UK Rejoining EU Single Market

Downing Street has played down suggestions that the UK could rejoin the EU single market, after Labour mayor Andy Burnham argued that such a move would require a referendum.

The single market allows EU member states to trade goods and services with minimal barriers. Britain exited the arrangement following Brexit, its formal departure from the bloc.

The prime minister had previously said he wanted to open a debate on how the UK might forge a closer relationship with the EU, without committing to any specific outcome, such as full re-entry into the single market.

Burnham's intervention came not at a Brexit-focused event, but during a rough sleeping summit hosted in Downing Street. There, he elaborated on remarks he had made earlier on Good Morning Britain, where he argued that tackling homelessness is less costly than leaving it unaddressed.

Rough sleeping, which refers to people living without shelter on the streets, remains a persistent issue across the UK, with councils and charities under pressure to find lasting solutions.

Burnham's comments on the single market have reignited debate within Labour and beyond over the UK's long-term relationship with Europe. Rejoining the single market would be a significant policy shift, likely raising questions over sovereignty and the UK's ability to set its own trade rules independently of EU regulations.

A referendum, as Burnham suggested, would give the public direct say over any such change, echoing the 2016 vote that triggered Brexit in the first place. However, No 10 has stopped short of confirming whether a referendum is being considered, or whether rejoining the single market is even under active discussion.

The government's muted response suggests it is wary of being drawn into a renewed Brexit debate, even as pressure grows from some quarters to deepen economic ties with the EU. For now, officials appear to be prioritising caution over clarity on the issue.