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Germany has vowed to do everything in its power to help Britain if it decides to rejoin the EU, after the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, said a second Brexit referendum was a possibility. He said an in-out referendum may feature in future Labour manifestos, while ruling out any immediate action.

He also pledged in his Labour conference speech on Tuesday to explore closer ties with the bloc at a summit later this year. Susanne Baumann, the German ambassador to the UK, said Germany would always serve as a “partner”, and she was happy to hear the Prime Minister’s comments.

She told The Telegraph: “For us Germans, the UK is an integral part of Europe – its history, its present and its future. I was therefore glad to hear the Prime Minister speak about different options for the UK’s relationship with Europe.

“It is, of course, for the British people to decide how close they want that relationship to be. But let me be clear: in Germany you will always find a partner for setting the ambition as high as we can.”

Mr Burnham’s divisive comments were met with mixed reactions. Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, said he was ready to “fight” Mr Burnham in an effort to stay outside of the EU.

It could prove to be a major sticking point in the next election, with the Conservatives also critical. The party accused Mr Burnham of trying to “reopen old wounds by restarting the battles of the Brexit years”.

In an interview with the BBC on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said options could include staying “exactly as we are”, a closer relationship with the EU, or rejoining the EU customs union.

However, he stressed that “to leap back to a proposal and a referendum on it wouldn’t be the right thing to do right now”. When questioned over future possibilities, he said: “Yes, things are possible. I think where we are isn’t good enough.”

Some European nations also welcomed the suggestion of a Brexit reversal. French President Emmanuel Macron said that rejoining would be “very good news” for the UK and for Europeans, in Madrid on Wednesday. “Welcome back,” he said.