Nigel Farage has accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of desperation over plans to discuss rejoining the European Union, branding claims of foreign interference a conspiracy theory and an insult to the intelligence of the British electorate.
Writing as a guest columnist, the Reform UK leader said it was predictable that Burnham would address the House of Commons for the first time in over a month by talking about rejoining the EU, while millions of Britons struggle with high energy bills, a tax burden not seen since the Second World War, and illegal migrants crossing the Channel in their thousands.
PM accused of changing the subject
Farage said Burnham's government had run out of ideas and was choosing to formally exhume the political corpse of the Brexit argument. He noted that only a fortnight ago the PM told conference delegates “I think we've got to focus on bringing people together”, calling the move an oddly divisive tactic.
He also criticised the PM for dusting off tired conspiracy theories regarding foreign interference to explain away a democratic outcome they refuse to accept. Farage argued that suggesting 17.4 million voters cast their ballots because of outside trickery rather than a rational desire to take back control of laws and borders was patronising.
Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty was forced to row back on the claims yesterday, telling LBC's Nick Ferrari: “The result is the result. We know what the result was. I don't think they've succeeded in their efforts.”
Migration, costs, and loss of sovereignty
Farage said rejoining the EU would mean the automatic restoration of freedom of movement, surrendering the sovereign right to control who enters the country. He cited independent modelling suggesting net migration could skyrocket by 500,000 people a year, adding that Britain is already dealing with severe pressures on housing and infrastructure.
He also highlighted the financial cost, noting the UK paid £18 billion a year in membership dues when it voted to leave, with current models estimating it could now be as much as £41 billion. Farage questioned why taxpayers' money should be sent to Brussels instead of being spent on armed forces, the NHS, and cutting domestic taxes.
Rejoining would also mean bowing to the European Court of Justice, accepting thousands of pages of EU regulations with no power to vote against them, and locking the UK back into the single market and customs union, preventing independent trade deals. Farage said the UK would become rule-takers, not rule-makers, trapped in a stagnant economic bloc.
Call for a general election
Farage said Burnham wants to blame everything on Brexit and frame rejoining as the answer to all prayers, but if he is so confident voters will follow him, he should call a general election now. He concluded: “The British people didn't fight to break free from the EU just to crawl back on our hands and knees. We've won this argument before. We will do so again.”
