Andy Burnham has dismissed calls to reverse Brexit, setting the stage for a potential Labour leadership contest with Wes Streeting. The Greater Manchester Mayor said the UK would be stuck in a "permanent rut" if politicians continue arguing about the 2016 referendum.
Speaking at the Great Northern Investment Summit, Burnham acknowledged that Brexit has been "damaging" but argued that re-running the debate would be counterproductive. "My view is that Brexit has been damaging, but I also believe the last thing we should do right now is rerun those arguments. Britain will be stuck in a permanent rut if we're just constantly arguing and people are pulling away from each other," he said.
Burnham, who is standing for Parliament in the Makerfield by-election, urged a focus on unity and economic growth. "It is time, surely, isn't it, to bring people back together, to focus on what we've got in common, to get the growth coming to all places?" he added.
His comments come after Streeting, the former Health Secretary, floated the possibility of rejoining the EU at the weekend. Streeting described leaving the EU as a "catastrophic mistake" and said Britain should one day return to the bloc. Burnham, however, made clear he does not support that position. "I am not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU. I respect the decision that was made at the referendum, and it's going to undermine everything that I've said about strengthening democracy," he stated.
Burnham's bid for Parliament is widely seen as a precursor to a leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has said he is not stepping down. Streeting has also indicated he would stand if a contest is triggered. Deputy PM David Lammy insisted there is no timetable for Starmer's departure.
Burnham said he wants to "fix" the Labour Party after a difficult period. "I know why I'm standing. I know what I'm offering. I know what my party has offered in the past has simply not been good enough," he said. He described a vote for him as a "vote to change Labour because Labour needs to change."
At last year's Labour Party conference, Burnham expressed hope that rejoining the EU would happen in his lifetime, saying he believes in unions of all kinds. But his current stance distances him from Streeting, who argued that leaving the EU left the UK "less wealthy, less powerful and less in control."
The by-election campaign has put Brexit at the forefront, a development that may be unwelcome for Burnham as he seeks to appeal to a broad electorate.
