Former chancellor Rachel Reeves has backed Prime Minister Andy Burnham's position on potentially strengthening ties with the EU, arguing that Brexit had left the UK "poorer, weaker and less secure".
Writing in The Sunday Times, the Labour former Cabinet minister said she welcomes "Andy Burnham's leadership" after comments made by the Prime Minister in recent days sparked fresh questions over whether Britain could rejoin the bloc or adopt its freedom of movement rules.
Burnham's summit plans
Mr Burnham is seeking to secure agreements on food and drink, emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme at a summit with the bloc next month, but has told ministers that the period beyond that would be to "explore options" for the long-term relationship.
Ms Reeves, who was removed as chancellor by Andy Burnham upon his arrival in office, said: "I am proud of the progress we have already made in strengthening our relationship with the European Union. Brexit has made us poorer, weaker and less secure.
"There is a debate to be had about our future relationship with Europe, and I welcome Andy Burnham's leadership in facing up to this. No one in the Treasury ever doubted where my instincts were."
Future relationship debate
While Ms Reeves said she believed "Britain's future lies in the European Union", she emphasised it was "incumbent on supporters of our re-entry to make the argument, demonstrate tangible benefits and to get the next steps right".
Any proposals regarding Britain's future relationship with Brussels will ultimately be put before the public, but the Prime Minister earlier this week cautioned individual ministers it would not be appropriate "to advocate for specific options or opine on the likely outcome of the process".
In correspondence to his Cabinet, Mr Burnham stated any "fundamental change" to post-Brexit arrangements would be "for the public to decide" and left to the next parliament.
