Nigel Farage has led a wave of fury from Brexiteers after the European Union delayed reset talks with the UK government, reportedly because Brussels believes incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham will be a softer touch than Sir Keir Starmer. The Reform UK leader urged voters not to let Labour betray the Leave vote, writing exclusively in the Express: “The EU has postponed its big 'reset' summit with the UK, because they think new Labour prime minister Andy Burnham will be an even softer touch than Keir Starmer when it comes to finally selling out Brexit.”
EU Delays Reset Talks Amid Burnham Leadership
The European Union postponed the planned reset summit, with Eurocrats reportedly preferring to negotiate with Burnham after he takes over from outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Burnham, who backed staying in the EU and said last year he wanted the UK to rejoin, is regarded as an even more committed Remainer than Starmer. Insiders fear he could cave in to a string of Brussels demands, handing the EU more concessions at Britain’s expense. Starmer had been accused of selling off UK fishing waters until 2038 and signing up to dozens of EU regulations without a parliamentary vote, but he was reportedly holding up agreements because he would not budge on demands such as fees for European students under the Erasmus plus scheme.
Political Reactions: Badenoch and Tice Speak Out
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised both Starmer and Burnham, saying: “Andy Burnham, like Keir Starmer, just wants to fight the battles of the past. Britain voted to leave the EU, now we must make the most of our freedoms.” She highlighted her record of ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in Britain as business secretary and signing the biggest post-Brexit trade deal with the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice told the Express that 10 years after the historic vote, the political establishment still seeks to overturn the result. He slammed Starmer for “dragging Britain back into the grip of Brussels” and said “it is increasingly clear that Andy Burnham will help seal the deal.”
Rees-Mogg and Longworth Warn Against Rejoining EU
Veteran Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg warned that more than 17 million people voted to leave the EU, while under 25,000 voted for Burnham in his by-election. “He has no mandate to take us back into the EU by stealth,” the former House of Commons leader added. John Longworth, chair of the Independent Business Network, cautioned Burnham against trying to return the UK to Brussels, saying: “If Andy Burnham tries to take the UK into the EU he will be doomed. He had better educate himself as to what the single market and customs union means – they mean economic damage.” Longworth added that the majority of people recognise this, as they reject signing up to EU rules when asked.
Barnier Opens Door to UK Return
Former French Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who served as the EU’s Brexit negotiator, declared the “door is open” to the UK returning to Brussels. Speaking in London on the day Starmer stepped down, he said everyone “knows the rules of the game” as he signalled it would be best for the UK to cosy up to the bloc. Furious critics warned any attempt to rejoin would be a knife in the back of British democracy. The Express has launched a campaign called ‘Give Us A Proper Brexit’, backed by Reform UK and the Conservative Party, calling for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, cut Brussels red tape, and impose a protected fishing zone. Burnham did not respond when approached by the newspaper.
