A government minister has failed to rule out putting a promise to rejoin the EU in Labour’s next manifesto, suggesting that Andy Burnham could attempt to unpick Brexit in the next parliament.
Minister for European relations Hamish Falconer insisted that the government is “not talking about rejoining today”, but added: “What we do in our next manifesto will be a question for the Labour Party.”
Earlier this month, former Labour leader Neil Kinnock told The Independent that rejoining the EU was the “only patriotic thing to do” for Britain.
Mike Galsworthy, chair of pro-EU campaign group the European Movement, said Mr Falconer’s remarks demonstrate “exactly the right approach” and called for a manifesto commitment to open accession talks.
Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, which campaigns to reintegrate the UK with the EU, said polling consistently finds a majority of people now support rejoining, especially among Labour voters.
But Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton accused the government of “still chasing its own tail on Europe”, saying British businesses, farmers, and young people are paying the price for the Conservatives’ broken Brexit deal.
