Wes Streeting has been accused of restarting the “Brexit wars” after calling for Britain to rejoin the European Union, a move that has intensified the unofficial Labour leadership contest. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described his proposal as “odd” and warned it could hurt the party’s chances in the upcoming Makerfield by-election, a constituency that voted Leave in 2016.
Nandy’s Criticism
Speaking after campaigning alongside Andy Burnham in Makerfield, Nandy said Streeting’s call to rejoin the EU was akin to saying “life was fine in 2015, we just need to go back there.” She accused him of “reopening the Brexit wars and going round back again around that track.” The row has put pressure on Burnham, who previously expressed support for rejoining but has since softened his stance ahead of the by-election.
Burnham’s Dilemma
Burnham told ITV News that while he sees a case for rejoining in the long term, he is not advocating it during the by-election campaign. Allies insist he is Labour’s best hope to defeat Reform UK in Makerfield. Josh Simon, who is vacating the seat for Burnham, warned that defeat would create an “existential” crisis for the party.
Meanwhile, Nandy said it was a “personal decision” for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on whether to defend his position in a leadership contest, signalling waning support from within the cabinet. Former minister Jess Phillips, who resigned this week urging Starmer to go, said he should not fight to remain leader if a contest is triggered.
Reform and Tory Attacks
Reform leader Nigel Farage seized on the row, dubbing Burnham “open borders Burnham” and claiming he “must be stopped.” Farage is also expected to attack Burnham over his record on grooming gangs. Police whistleblower Maggie Oliver criticised Burnham for failing to act on a final review, saying he “did not grasp the nettle.” Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Labour of rehashing Brexit due to a lack of a “plan for this country.”
Nandy on Leadership
Nandy, who stood for the Labour leadership in 2020, said she believes “a woman leader is long overdue” in Labour. She expressed frustration that the party’s internal debate has ignored voters’ demands for urgent change, adding that “the idea that the rest of the country is obsessing about who is the leader of the Labour Party is just for the birds.”
