Nigel Farage has issued a stark warning that Andy Burnham poses the greatest threat to Brexit yet, claiming the potential Labour leader would jeopardise hard-won freedoms if he replaces Sir Keir Starmer. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Expresso ahead of the Makerfield by-election, the Reform UK leader delivered his most damning comments yet on the state of the nation.
Farage's Dire Warning
Mr Farage said he believes the Greater Manchester Mayor could unpick Brexit “further” than Starmer. He accused Burnham of flip-flopping on Brexit, noting that Burnham previously said he hopes Britain will “rejoin” the EU but recently reversed his position to appeal to Leave voters in Makerfield. “Starmer was a threat to Brexit, the whole Labour government's a threat to Brexit,” Farage said. “They've never ever accepted it... Burnham could possibly take that further.”
10 Years to Save Britain
Delivering his most forthright assessment, Mr Farage claimed longstanding government failures mean there is just 10 years to “save Britain” or “we’ll become a third world country.” He suggested he would need “two terms” as Prime Minister to turn the country around. “Within a decade, we will be a third world country,” he said. “An economy like Greece, a divided society... our bright 25 to 35 year olds fleeing en-masse abroad.”
Brexit's Mixed Legacy
Reflecting on 10 years since the 2016 referendum, Mr Farage acknowledged Brexit is “not perfect” but insisted “constitutionally, we're out.” He praised Britain’s role in helping Ukraine and the vaccine rollout as successes, but blasted Boris Johnson for “betraying” border control promises, leading to high immigration. “We had the freedom to do something about it, but we chose the opposite,” he said.
Reform UK's Vision
Mr Farage promised to reverse all of Labour’s Brexit reversals if he becomes Prime Minister, including leaving the European Convention on Human Rights. He backed the Daily Express’s “Give Us a Proper Brexit” campaign, calling for slashed red tape and a 12-mile fishing exclusion zone.
Both Mr Burnham and Sir Keir have been approached for a response to Mr Farage’s remarks.
