Roland Lescure told Britain to “come all the way” back to the EU after Andy Burnham said a second Brexit referendum was possible in a future Labour manifesto. The French finance minister used the interview to frame the choice as one for Britain, while also warning that EU industrial rules could leave UK supply chains on the outside.
“British people decided, and that's obviously their 100% right, and if they're willing to come back, they will have to decide,” Lescure said. He added: “But what I can tell them is: come back, anytime.”
Andy Burnham and Labour
Burnham said the UK needed to “consider the options” after last week’s comments, ranging from staying as is to rejoining the customs union or single market, or going “all the way”. The remarks made the Andy Burnham EU trade talks story more than a diplomatic exchange: they opened a debate about whether Labour might put a second Brexit referendum into a future election manifesto.
That is the political fault line running through the exchange. Lescure welcomed Britain back to the EU, but Burnham had already warned that new EU industrial rules could damage the UK, especially if British manufacturers are left outside decisions on public contracts and subsidies.
Made In Europe scheme
The planned Made In Europe scheme is meant to protect EU industry from Chinese competitors by giving companies inside the bloc priority for public contracts and subsidies. Burnham said he was concerned about what that could mean for British industry and supply chains, while the EU's car industry has called for the UK to be included to avoid disruption to its own supply chains.
Lescure said the point of being in the bloc was to help members address the challenges facing the world more effectively, even if membership brought difficulties. He also said: “Come back, and you'll be at the table, and we discuss all these things together.”
France and the interview
The interview also turned to France, where Lescure said more than 500 schools were fully or partially shut as of Wednesday and hundreds of thousands of people were taking to the streets to call for better conditions in schools. He said he would cut back on health spending in France's upcoming budget and ask retired people to accept a below-inflation rise to their pension next year.
For Britain, the immediate issue is not whether a return is imminent, but whether Burnham’s comments signal a future Labour position or just a possibility inside the party’s debate. Lescure has already drawn his line: Britain can come back anytime, if Britain decides to do it.
