France Invites Britain Back Into EU, Claims Brexit Failed
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called Brexit a failure and said France would support Britain rejoining the EU while backing Andy Burnham for Prime Minister.
A senior French government minister has openly invited Britain to rejoin the European Union while declaring Brexit a failure, in remarks that dismiss the democratic choice of over 17 million British voters.
Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s Foreign Minister, used a television interview to promote closer EU-UK ties and throw his support behind Andy Burnham, the Labour politician who has previously expressed support for Britain returning to the bloc, according to GB News.
Speaking to France 5, Barrot openly backed Burnham’s political ambitions, saying he hoped the Makerfield MP would secure the Prime Minister’s position. The French minister praised Burnham’s early momentum while acknowledging internal British political procedures remained.
Burnham himself has publicly stated he respects the outcome of the 2016 Brexit referendum and is not actively proposing that Britain seek EU membership again. However, his past statements supporting such a move have not been forgotten.
Barrot launched into criticism of Brexit during the interview, claiming the UK’s departure from the EU had failed to deliver on any promises and left Britain weakened. His comments came despite France recording virtually identical GDP growth to the UK since Brexit, undermining claims that Britain has suffered economically from leaving the Brussels-based bloc.
France Ready for ‘Breturn’ Discussions
The Foreign Minister went further by announcing France stood ready to facilitate Britain’s return to the European Union, coining the term Breturn for such a scenario.
Barrot stated that Paris would open the door to UK membership, though he emphasized this would come with both rights and responsibilities. He also claimed that negotiations between Britain and the EU to restore closer relationships had already commenced.
The minister’s remarks represent an extraordinary intervention in British domestic politics by a foreign government official. His comments effectively disregard the 2016 referendum result, in which 17,410,742 British citizens voted to leave the European Union.
Political Implications
Barrot’s public endorsement of Burnham and his call for Britain to reverse Brexit raise questions about French influence in UK political affairs. The timing of these statements, as Burnham pursues higher office, has drawn attention to the ongoing debate over Britain’s relationship with continental Europe.
While Burnham has moderated his public position on EU membership, his earlier advocacy for rejoining the bloc continues to shape perceptions of his political objectives. The French minister’s backing may prove controversial among British voters who view Brexit as a settled question.
France’s eagerness for Britain’s return to the EU also highlights ongoing tensions over the post-Brexit settlement and the direction of UK-European relations under current and potential future governments.
With information from GB News
