Lord Kinnock: Andy Burnham Will Lead the UK Back Into the EU

Lord Kinnock Backs Andy Burnham for UK Return to Europe

Lord Neil Kinnock has revealed in an interview with repubblica.it that Prime Minister Andy Burnham is committed to bringing the United Kingdom back into the European Union. Speaking from his home, the 84-year-old former Labour leader stated that Burnham’s pro-European stance is authentic, though he warned that strong polling by Reform UK and the Conservative Party currently poses a gigantic impediment to re-establishing trust with Brussels.

The path back into the European bloc requires careful political maneuvering and a decisive electoral defeat of right-wing opponents, according to Lord Kinnock. He noted that any future attempt to rejoin would necessitate starting almost from scratch because the European Union of 2016 no longer exists. However, he pointed out that nearly 50 years of EU membership left many British regulations and practices naturally aligned with European standards. To secure a successful return, Lord Kinnock suggested that a future plebiscite would require a conditional two-thirds majority exceeding 60 percent, echoing the 66% vote recorded in the 1975 referendum.

From Eurosceptic Beginnings to Modern Party Evolution

Lord Kinnock’s endorsement of a pro-European future marks a notable chapter in a political career that began with his own Eurosceptic views before he eventually served as Vice-President of the European Commission under Romano Prodi. During his tenure as Labour leader from 1983 to 1992—where he lost elections to Margaret Thatcher and John Major—he focused on purging extremist factions and modernizing the party. Those internal reforms ultimately paved the way for Tony Blair’s landslide victory in 1997.

Addressing Burnham’s past rhetoric on Europe, Lord Kinnock defended the Prime Minister for downplaying the issue during the Makerfield by-election, explaining that the immediate priority was simply winning the seat to secure the party leadership rather than debating continental relations.

Economic Security and Tax Reform for Working People

Beyond European diplomacy, Lord Kinnock addressed domestic economic strategy, endorsing asset and wealth taxes to alleviate financial pressure on the lowest earners. Noting that earned incomes have stagnated across Western economies since 2008, he argued that top incomes have exploded beyond Victorian-era levels. Equalising capital gains tax with income tax—specifically targeting rents and share sales—could generate approximately £18 billion annually. This revenue stream, he calculated, equals roughly 2p on the lowest rate of income tax, allowing the government to support working people without increasing their direct tax burdens.

Reflecting on the broader political landscape, Lord Kinnock diagnosed an age of anxiety across Europe driven by unmitigated globalisation. He argued that social democratic parties must respond by championing security, care, and community protection. Praising Burnham’s cool and rational socialism, he compared the Prime Minister’s practical state intervention to the governance of Winston Churchill in the 1950s.

Commonly Asked Questions About the UK and Europe

Will the United Kingdom hold another referendum to rejoin the European Union?

Lord Kinnock suggested that any future decision to rejoin the EU could involve a conditional plebiscite requiring a threshold exceeding 60 percent of the vote to ensure long-term stability.

What obstacles stand in the way of a British return to the EU?

According to Lord Kinnock, the combined 40 percent polling figures for Reform UK and the Conservative Party create a major impediment because European member states require certainty that the UK’s engagement is dependable and permanent.

How does Lord Kinnock propose funding tax relief for working people?

He advocated for equalising capital gains tax with income tax to target top incomes and asset wealth, which he estimates would raise about £18 billion a year.