Andy Burnham's proposed plans to rejoin the European Union have been slammed as unrealistic by a fellow Labour politician. The Prime Minister delivered his first Labour Party Conference speech as leader on Tuesday, claiming that Brexit had done "more harm than good" and vowing to look at all possible options for the UK.
Two-word verdict from Scottish Labour leader
Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra believes the move isn't feasible during the current climate. He said in a two-word comment that he does not believe there's a "realistic prospect" of the UK re-joining the EU because of the "huge political instability" across the continent.
Speaking at the POLITICO pub during a Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Mr Marra noted that the changing political landscape in Germany and France meant that the EU was not in a position to consider the UK's return "on any terms we might think is reasonable".
Political instability cited
Despite the Scottish party leader clarifying that he would back efforts for a British return to the EU should Europe find itself in a "different place" in the future, he believes that it may not be a "realistic prospect" for a generation or more.
He says that politics across the continent is currently "really unstable", citing global economic instability, issues across the Middle East, and migrant crises as reasons for a "destabilised" political climate.
Mr Marra said: "What we do need is a closer relationship because we know the economic cost that's resulted from Brexit. I want to see us doing that on a case-by-case basis."
Options to be laid out around summit
Mr Burnham said he would "lay out options" around the time of the next EU-UK summit, which is expected to be held in November. He's argued that leaving the bloc hasn't given the UK any control, but rather that the nation has just lost control of immigration.
"I will take the opportunity around the summit to lay out to you, to lay out to the country, what I believe the different options are for Britain's long term relationship with our European partners," the Prime Minister said.
"There are different options and I will see if we can find consensus around one, which will give us clarity about our position and the future of the continent that we live in."
