Dame Priti Patel has issued a stark warning that the United Kingdom's Brexit freedoms are “at great risk” due to the ongoing chaos within the Labour Party. The Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary expressed deep concern over the potential premiership of Andy Burnham, who she claims will soon be “cosying up with EU leaders” if he succeeds in becoming prime minister.
Patel's dire warning on Brexit freedoms
Dame Priti said: “Labour is proving so terrible at governing Britain, they want to hand power over to the EU’s army of unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats. With the turmoil in the Labour Party and change in prime minister coming, our Brexit freedoms are at great risk.” She emphasised that Keir Starmer was a “cheerleader for Remain” and that Burnham has “never believed in Brexit either.”
“Burnham will need to appease those in his party who want Britain back in the EU. So it won’t be long before we see images of him cosying up with EU leaders, offering them British taxpayers’ money and giving away powers,” she added.
Burnham's stance on EU membership
Andy Burnham, who voted to remain in the EU during the 2016 referendum, said last September that he would like to see the UK back in the bloc within his lifetime. However, last month he promised not to “re-run” Brexit arguments, stating that he is not proposing that the UK rejoins the European Union.
In a speech at a conference in Leeds, Burnham said: “My view is that Brexit has been damaging, but I also believe the last thing we should do right now is re-run those arguments. I am not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU. I respect the decision that was made at the referendum and it is going to undermine everything I have said about strengthening democracy if we don't respect that vote.”
Brexiteers' reactions to potential Burnham premiership
Senior Brexiteers have voiced strong opposition to a potential Burnham premiership. Former MEP David Campbell Bannerman noted that outgoing Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had been elected on a manifesto that ruled out returning to Brussels. However, Bannerman warned: “Burnham can claim he wasn't elected on that manifesto, which makes him dangerous.” He suggested that Burnham could “increase the pace on rejoining the EU” and branded Labour “simply totally untrustworthy” when it came to delivering Brexit.
John Longworth, chief of the Independent Business Network of Family Business, raised alarms over the wannabe prime minister. He warned that the “greatest mistake” Mr Burnham would make is trying to get closer to the EU, or rejoin it. Longworth said: “Burnham as PM and advised by Andy Haldane, has the potential to do the right things for growth and reverse the terrible choices made by Starmer and Reeves, but will he? The greatest mistake he is likely to make is trying to get closer to the EU or, worse still, rejoin. Britain has already benefited from Brexit, outperforming France and Germany and the Eurozone, saving billions of EU fees and is set for growth: biotech, financial services, fintech and AI, all now free of EU red tape. Business and the City don’t want another bout of Brexit wrangling but prefer to look forward to a boosted Brexit Britain. Burnham needs to make his position on the declining EU clear from the start.”
Political context and upcoming leadership
Britain marked 10 years since more than 17 million people voted to leave the EU on Tuesday. The Daily Express Give Us A Proper Brexit crusade has called for Britain to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, slash red tape for businesses, and enforce a 12-mile exclusion zone around the UK for British vessels only. The crusade has been backed by Reform UK and the Conservatives.
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said: “Sir Keir Starmer has already begun dragging Britain back into the EU’s ambit, and Andy Burnham’s arrival will seal the deal. This is someone who has made it quite clear he wants Britain to rejoin the EU.”
Mr Burnham could become prime minister by the middle of next month if he is not challenged in the Labour leadership race to replace Sir Keir Starmer. The Prime Minister resigned in an emotional statement outside No 10 on Monday, days after Mr Burnham won the crunch Makerfield by-election last week. His constituency voted strongly for Brexit in 2016.
Despite seeking closer ties with Brussels, Sir Keir Starmer had three “red lines” – returning to the customs union or the single market and allowing free movement – which he promised at the 2024 election would not be crossed. It is unclear whether Mr Burnham would stick to these or not.
Robert Oulds, of the Bruges group think tank, which campaigns against re-joining the EU, said: “Burnham is set to betray Brexit. He owes his position to an internal coup carried out by a coalition of militant trade unionists, old-style tax and spend socialists, and pro-EU fanatics. The price they are charging him is opening up freedom of movement, billions more to be paid to the EU's Erasmus scheme, and foreign court's ruling in this country. If he had the courage, he would seek an immediate election to secure a mandate of his own. Instead, he will use Starmer's majority to undermine our democracy and ignore the wishes of his constituents who 10 years ago overwhelmingly voted to get Britain out.”
It comes as a UK-EU summit, which had been due to take place on July 22, was cancelled amid Labour’s chaos. Andy Burnham and the Labour Party have been contacted for comment.
