David Cameron warns Andy Burnham not to seek to rejoin the EU and tells PM that Brexit 'has nothing to do with UK's economic woes'

Detailed summary

In a major intervention ahead of Mr Burnham's upcoming talks with European leaders, Lord Cameron warned against reopening a 'painful argument' over EU membership.

Published: 17:50 GMT, 11 November 2026 | Updated: 18:11 GMT, 11 November 2026

David Cameron has urged Andy Burnham not to seek to rejoin the EU and told the Prime Minister to stop blaming Brexit for the UK's economic woes.

In a major intervention ahead of Mr Burnham's upcoming talks with European leaders, Lord Cameron warned against reopening a 'painful argument' over EU membership.

The former Conservative PM saw his own premiership derailed by his loss in the 2016 EU referendum, during which he led the Remain campaign.

He admitted to being 'desperately disappointed' that British voters rejected his call to stay in the EU by opting for Brexit.

But he added he was 'a believer in democracy' and said the UK should continue outside the EU while being 'best friends' with the bloc.

Lord Cameron, who surprisingly returned to frontline politics as foreign secretary in Rishi Sunak's government, also rejected calls for the UK to rejoin the EU's customs union.

He said it was not the 'right answer' as Mr Burnham prepares to outline a range of options for Britain's long-term relationship with the EU.

'If you look at the economic problems we have today, I don't really think they've got anything to do with Brexit at all,' Lord Cameron told Bloomberg's Mishal Husain.

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