French Finance Minister Roland Lescure has invited Britain to rejoin the European Union, saying "come back, anytime" after UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham signalled a second Brexit referendum was "possible" in a future Labour election manifesto.
Burnham last week said the UK needed to "consider the options", ranging from staying outside the bloc, rejoining the customs union or single market, or going "all the way" back to full EU membership. Lescure told the BBC that being in the EU comes with difficulties but enables members to better address global challenges. "British people decided, and that's obviously their 100% right, and if they're willing to come back, they will have to decide," Lescure said.
The French minister's invitation comes as Burnham has raised concerns about planned EU rules to help European manufacturers. The Made In Europe scheme aims to protect EU industry from Chinese competitors by giving companies inside the bloc priority for public contracts and subsidies. Burnham warned that these rules could damage British industry and supply chains. The EU's car industry has called for the UK to be included to prevent disruption to its own supply chains.
Lescure addressed the possibility of Britain being excluded from the scheme directly. "Come back, and you'll be at the table, and we discuss all these things together," he said, using the invitation to rejoin as a condition for gaining influence over such decisions.
The interview also touched on domestic French challenges. Lescure acknowledged France's annual public borrowing of over 5% of its gross domestic product as "alarming" and said action was needed now to avoid forced measures later. He noted that borrowing costs have risen significantly, especially compared to Germany, but said there was "no issue" with issuing its debt. He stated his budget "will pass" the fractious French parliament despite political divisions.
Lescure also addressed student protests that have swept France, with over 500 schools fully or partially shut as of Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets to demand better school conditions. The finance minister acknowledged it was a "tough world" for young people and said leaders have a duty to listen to them. He indicated that in France's upcoming budget he will cut health spending and ask retired people to accept below-inflation pension rises, while promising further investment in education.