A resurfaced video shows Prime Minister Andy Burnham previously condemning EU free movement as an open-border "race to the bottom," contradicting his recent statements that the policy would be on the table in negotiations.
The clip dates from 2016, when Mr Burnham was MP for Leigh before becoming Mayor of Greater Manchester. In a speech, he described free movement as a scheme "defeated at the ballot box" and said it "has made life more difficult in places where it is already hardest."
Speech criticised multinationals
Mr Burnham, who voted Remain and later demanded a second referendum, used the speech to warn his Left-wing colleagues not to betray Leave voters in Greater Manchester.
"Free movement has arguably been providing greater benefit to large companies than it has to the most deprived communities," he said. "There is nothing socialist about a system of open borders that allows multinationals to treat people as commodities and move them around Europe to drive down labour costs and create a race to the bottom."
The video has resurfaced after Mr Burnham caused a stir over the weekend by saying Freedom of Movement with the EU would be on the table in negotiations. He is due to meet eurocrats next month at a major summit and has urged an "honest" conversation on the UK's future relationship with the bloc.
Reaction from critics
The Prime Minister's comments sparked fury from Brexiteers, including Nigel Farage, who accused him of a Brexit "betrayal." The Reform UK leader said he was ready to fight against the EU once again.
Former Labour MP Simon Danczuk said online: "Burnham's principles are like buses, give it time you get three different ones in quick succession." He added: "Note he's against free movement in Dec 2016 cause he's about to stand for Manchester Mayor. When Mayor he's pro-EU. When Makerfield candidate he's anti. Now he's back in favour…"
Veteran Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said: "To think that the Prime Minister used to be so strongly against free movement of people in the EU as it was bad for his constituents. Is Leigh that far from Makerfield? (No, part of Leigh went into Makerfield in the last boundary changes)."
No 10 on Monday distanced itself from the call for a referendum on the topic, saying Mr Burnham had not promised one despite the Prime Minister telling reporters just minutes before that he would not drag the UK back into the scheme without such a vote.
