Prime Minister Andy Burnham has issued a warning regarding proposed European Union regulations intended to support European manufacturers, stating that the measures could cause damage to the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister intends to raise his concerns directly with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a scheduled meeting at a United Nations summit in New York.
The EU's proposed initiative, known as the Industrial Accelerator Act or the "Made In Europe" scheme, is designed to shield bloc industries from Chinese competition by granting companies within the EU priority access to subsidies and public contracts. While the scheme has not yet been finalized, there is pressure from the European car industry for the UK to be included to avoid potential disruption to existing supply chains.
Speaking while traveling to the United States, Burnham emphasized his desire to avoid "collateral damage" from the policy. He noted that he has found considerable support among EU member states for the British position, arguing that both the UK and European nations face similar economic challenges, particularly regarding the steel industry. "We are making the argument 'we are not your enemies here… we are not the problem'," he stated. "Made in Europe is dealing with a different problem."
Regarding his broader strategy, the Prime Minister stated his immediate priority is to rebuild the relationship with the EU and secure an agreement that benefits the British economy. When asked about the possibility of rejoining the EU, he declined to rule out including such a commitment in a future Labour manifesto, stating it was an issue "for another day." Tensions surrounding the proposed industrial scheme have reportedly contributed to further delays for this year's planned EU-UK summit, which had already been postponed following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation in July.
"We both suffer the same effects as other countries, particularly steel and the issue it raises for the steel industry in Europe and in Britain.
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