Rachel Reeves has said she believes Britain should rejoin the European Union as she warned Brexit has made the country “poorer, weaker and less secure”.

The former chancellor voiced her support for Andy Burnham ’s move to open the door to negotiations with Brussels as she said she “welcomed” his decision.

Writing in the Sunday Times , Ms Reeves said she accepted there was a “debate to be had” about the UK’s future in the EU , but that she believes the country’s future ultimately lies within the bloc.

Rachel Reeves has thrown her support behind moves to rejoin the EU (Getty)

“I am proud of the progress we have already made in strengthening our relationship with the European Union,” she wrote. “Brexit has made us poorer, weaker and less secure. There is a debate to be had about our future relationship with Europe, and I welcome Andy Burnham’s leadership in facing up to this. No one in the Treasury ever doubted where my instincts were.

“I do believe Britain’s future lies in the European Union.…