UK and EU confirm date of summit after Burnham says Russian meddling shows the need for closer ties

LONDON -- Russia’s attempts to meddle in European politics show why Britain must forge a closer relationship with the European Union, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Monday, arguing that “the status quo is not good enough.”Burnham said that attempts by Russia to interfere in democratic votes across Europe, including Britain’s 2016 EU membership referendum, highlight the importance of strengthening the U.K.'s links with its neighbors, years after they were weakened by Brexit.He told lawmakers in the House of Commons that it would be “a dereliction of duty” not to seek stronger ties with the 27-nation bloc that the U.K. left in 2020.The statement comes after Burnham told the Labour Party’s annual conference last month that “Brexit has done more harm than good” and that the bare-bones trade deal Britain has with the EU is holding the country back. He said he will seek political consensus on a new relationship, with future options including rejoining the bloc.The U.K. and the EU announced Monday that they will hold a summit in Brussels on Nov. 20 as a step toward strengthening ties. Burnham said the two sides will discuss a trade deal for food and drink, agreements on energy and emiss...