Residents, workers and politicians in PM Andy Burnham's new constituency have blasted any possible return to the EU as a "blatant betrayal of Brexit".
In May, the then wannabe prime minister vowed not to "re-run" Brexit arguments as he stood for election as an MP in Ashton-In-Makerfield, in Greater Manchester, which voted strongly in 2016 to quit the EU. But this week Burnham has been making a case for a possible U-turn, wanting to "deepen" ties with the European Union and suggesting a future general election manifesto could even feature a fresh in/out referendum pledge.
On Tuesday, we visited Ashton-in-Makerfield to ask locals whether they would welcome a return to the EU, or if a potentially divisive national referendum is the last thing the UK needs right now.
Shoppers divided but agree on priorities
At the Gerard Centre shopping precinct in the heart of the former coal-mining town, shoppers were divided over an EU return but all seemed to agree the nation has bigger priorities at the moment.
Charity worker Joanne Lait, 60, explained: "Why now of all times? He's only been in the job for three months. People around here are fed up with politics, to be honest.
"Look at the retail here. Shops are empty, as are the streets, because people have no money to spend. The economy and the cost of living crisis need to be sorted right now."
Former headteacher Jenny Haunch, 58, said she would favour a return to the EU because she felt the 'slogans' and offers the voters were tempted with 10 years ago have never come true. She added: "I feel all Brexit has done is isolate us from the rest of Europe when we should all be standing together."
Yet her friend Marian Caldwell, 81, had a completely opposite view, asking why the UK wants to be lumped in with France and Spain when they are struggling financially. The retired theatre sister nurse went on: "Labour should be concentrating on helping the poor, those struggling to make ends meet and supporting farmers to grow produce to feed our nation.
"Why revisit Brexit now? It makes no sense! It's simply not the right time. It's crazy."
No appetite for another bitter debate
Shopper Lisa O'Dea, 51, works in education and said regardless of how people voted the first time, she hasn't the appetite for another bitter Brexit debate. She pointed out: "It's fair to say that some of the promises made around Brexit have not materialised but also now is not the right time for going back and looking at this all over again!"
Pensioner Mavis Atherton, 82, was out enjoying the October sunshine with her son Mark, 63, after a downpour in Makerfield soaked the streets on Tuesday morning. The great-grandmother-of-one has lived in Makerfield for 60 years and seen the changes to the town that has been under Labour control now for a staggering 120 years.
Mavis told us: "I think reversing Brexit might be a good thing you know, to kick start our economy differently and see if we can get out of this mess. But I have to say I'm worried if Brexit is the thing most occupying Andy Burnham's mind right now.
"Household bills are through the roof, the cost of living is squeezing everyone, petrol prices - oh my god don't get me started on them all. Life is just so expensive."
Son Mark voted for Brexit but said he is dismayed that politicians want to re-run that divisive argument all over again. He sighed: "The lunatics are running the asylum. I can't see any inspiring politicians anywhere. I liked Penny Mordaunt but she never got a decent look-in.
"I voted for Brexit at the time because I was a businessman running a shop by the library and thought it would be a boost for UK business. Now the library is shut."
Market trader and councillors voice anger
Angry market trader James Morley, 39, owns a shop selling video games and consoles and says he cannot understand Labour's obsession with the EU - when the whole world is a marketplace. James explained: "There are billions of people on the planet, and dozens of countries who have big markets we have not fully tapped yet. We should be focusing more on the US and China.
"Also open borders, freedom of movement - the immigration debate is a big issue in this area which is why it voted so heavily for Brexit a decade ago. We have wages down and people out of work - if we have freedom of movement, how will that be a boost to unemployment and help kids out of school find that first job?"
At Chapos, a pub just outside the town centre, a quartet of local Reform councillors sat down with me to explain their constituents' concerns about a Brexit U-turn. In 2016, during the referendum, 65% of Ashton-in-Makerfield voters said they wanted to leave the EU - making Andy Burnham's new constituency as their MP the 75th biggest 'Leave' seat in the UK.
On May 7, 2026 Reform caused shockwaves by winning 24 of the 25 council seats up for grabs in Wigan, Greater Manchester, giving the stunned, dominant Labour Party a bloody nose. Inside Chapos, local Reform UK councillors Leon Peters, 49; David Bowker, 55, Paul Manniex, 51, and Paul Forbes, 68, said any promise of a fresh referendum will not be received well by Burnham's constituents.
Leon told us: "Labour are just the party of the U-turns. We were told the Brexit referendum would be respected whatever the outcome but it has constantly been undermined. I'm not surprised Burnham is talking this way, but I also know the strength of feeling on the doorstep, and Burnham is way out of step with local feeling on this matter."
Angry David Bowker fumed: "It would be a blatant Brexit betrayal. People are still angry and concerned about immigration here - it is the number one topic that worries them. They simply don't believe a full and proper Brexit has ever been implemented and want that - what they don't want is to revisit a referendum when we've only just had one."
