A Starmer minister and close ally of Andy Burnham tore into Wes Streeting today for suggesting the UK rejoin the EU. Lisa Nandy said that the former health secretary risked 'reopening the Brexit wars' with his 'odd' call yesterday for the country to rejoin the bloc, 10 years after the seismic vote to leave.
The Culture Secretary, who posted pictures on social media of herself out campaigning with Mr Burnham yesterday, attacked his leadership rival while ostensibly on TV representing Keir Starmer's government. Mr Streeting sparked a new front in Labour's civil war yesterday as he set out his desire for a 'new special relationship' with the EU, and to eventually rejoin the trade bloc.
Speaking at the Progress think tank's conference in central London on Saturday, Mr Streeting described Brexit as a 'catastrophic mistake', and broke the ice on a topic which Labour has long avoided revisiting. 'We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain's future lies with Europe – and one day back in the European Union,' he said.
But speaking to Sky News today, Ms Nandy said: 'I think it is a bit odd, if I am honest.' And she stopped short of endorsing the PM staying on in No10, saying he had to 'make up his own mind' about continuing.
The policy offer could also be read as a direct challenge to Mr Burnham, who has previously expressed support for rejoining the EU, but may wish to avoid directly speaking about the issue as he bids to become Labour's candidate in the upcoming Makerfield by-election. The constituency on the edge of Greater Manchester was a Brexit-voting area in the referendum held nearly 10 years ago on June 23 2016.
Ms Nandy posted pictures of herself with Mr Burnham and fellow ally Louise Haigh yesterday, saying: 'Good to be out on the doors in Winstanley today and lovely to see some good friends come over to help.' Reform UK, whose leader Nigel Farage was among the most prominent supporters of leaving the EU, won every council ward in the Makerfield constituency in last week's local elections, securing around half the vote, while Labour won only a little more than a quarter.
Mr Burnham was asked whether he remained in favour of rejoining the EU in an interview with ITV News on Saturday. He told the broadcaster: 'I've said in the long term there is a case for that, but I'm not advocating that in this by-election. In fact, what I am saying is focus now domestically, Britain has got to focus very much on the here and now and the issues that are affecting people.'
