Macron welcomes Burnham's suggestion UK could rejoin EU

Macron's welcoming response comes after Burnham, a senior figure in Britain's Labour Party, raised the prospect of EU membership as a potential answer to ongoing questions about the UK's post-Brexit relationship with the bloc.

Burnham's remarks indicate a willingness within sections of British politics to reconsider the country's position outside the European Union, more than seven years after the Brexit referendum. His suggestion appears to reflect growing concerns about the economic and political implications of Britain's departure from the bloc.

The French president's positive reception signals that EU leadership may be open to discussions about Britain's potential return, should political circumstances in London shift toward such a possibility. However, any formal move toward rejoining would require significant changes in British political consensus and would likely face substantial hurdles within both the UK and EU.

The exchange underscores the continued debate within Britain about Brexit's consequences and the country's long-term strategic direction in relation to its European neighbours. It also reflects broader discussions about how the UK might restructure its international relationships in coming years.