Andy Burnham has claimed that public opinion on Brexit “has changed” in Makerfield, the constituency where he fought a by-election as Prime Minister. Nearly two thirds of voters there backed leaving the EU.
During the campaign, he insisted he would not “rerun” the Brexit debate. Since entering Downing Street, however, he has spoken about a “closer relationship” with the EU.
Comments in ITV documentary
Mr Burnham was asked to clarify his points in an ITV documentary on Tuesday night, which examined the first 100 days of his premiership. When asked if he had gone to his constituents to see if they wanted to bring back freedom of movement, Mr Burnham insisted he had not proposed bringing such a policy back.
He said: “I do believe that we should have an honest discussion with people about how immigration has changed since the Brexit vote.
“I noticed in the middle of the by-election that public opinion had changed in the Makerfield constituency over those 10 years. I think public opinion has changed nationally.”
Mr Burnham did not provide any statistics to show how his constituents would vote in another referendum on the EU.
UK-EU trade agreement
This week, the UK and EU have agreed a draft deal on removing post-Brexit checks from food and agriculture exports. Mr Burnham said the public will expect the Government to grab “with both hands” the opportunity to boost economic growth through closer trade ties with the EU.
The Prime Minister defended plans to accept a new agreement with Brussels on food and farming during a meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in Antigua.
Asked if he believed it was acceptable for the UK to have its rules on food trade made by the EU without any input, Mr Burnham told broadcasters: “What’s facing me two weeks on Friday is a UK-EU summit where I have the opportunity to add to UK growth.
“It’s estimated up to 0.4pc extra on GDP.
“I think people in Britain would expect me to take that with both hands, given where we’ve been in recent times, and that’s what I’m doing.
“We’re not in the EU, therefore, we do have to work with them in a different way.
“But if that can get growth, if that can help our farmers, if that can remove red tape from British businesses, I think most people would expect me to go to that summit and negotiate the best deal that I can.”
The Prime Minister had earlier told the Economist magazine that the Treasury had confirmed in recent days that agreements under negotiation ahead of a summit later this month could raise GDP by 0.4pc – up from the previous estimate of 0.3pc.
Mr Burnham wants to lock in deals on food and drink, emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme at a Brussels summit on November 20.
