A series of Labour MPs have made the case for the UK rejoining the EU, urging Andy Burnham’s government to consider full membership as it prepares to set out options for the UK’s long-term relationship with Europe.

Labour MPs from Brexit-backing parts of the North and Midlands cautioned against reopening the divisive debate - and urged the Prime Minister to rule out a return to free movement.

The BBC's political editor Chris Mason explains.

By Elizabeth Piper LONDON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Monday he would press to secure a deal to improve trade relations with the EU at a summit next month and called on parliament to back him in building closer ties with the bloc over the longer term.

Andy Burnham’s latest effort to reignite the Brexit debate is starting to look like his first major mistake in office.

Fishing businesses, language schools and even zoo breeding programmes are paying the price of Brexit, MPs have warned during a debate on whether Britain should seek to rejoin the European Union.

For the first time since the UK left the EU, we have a prime minister who will "unflinchingly" debate Brexit, says the BBC's political editor Chris Mason.

In a statement to the Commons, Andy Burnham confirmed that he was drawing a new political dividing line with the Tories and Reform. “Sticking with the status quo is not good enough for Britain,” he