Andy Burnham has criticised David Cameron's surprise Brexit intervention, suggesting the former prime minister is more focused on Conservative Party unity than on British interests.
Mr Burnham's comments came after Lord Cameron, who resigned after losing the 2016 referendum he triggered, warned against opening the door to rejoining the EU and starting a "decade-long debate". In an interview with Bloomberg, Lord Cameron also appeared lukewarm on the possibility of rejoining a customs union, saying today's economic problems are not down to Brexit.
Burnham Rejects Cameron's Claims
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mr Burnham said: "I think he is wrong to say that the low growth that we've had over the last decade has quote 'nothing to do with Brexit'.
"I would say the evidence says otherwise and indeed the Treasury analysis says otherwise, which is, if we are able to come to a good working arrangement on emissions trading, on agri food, on other things as well, that we can add growth to the British economy. So I think he is wrong to say that."
He added: "It feels like his intervention is more about unity in the Conservative Party that it is about fighting for the British, the British interests."
Push for a New EU Deal
Mr Burnham also insisted the country ended up with a "far harder Brexit" than the country thought "they were getting when they went to the polls".
The Prime Minister was discussing Lord Cameron's comments at the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Dublin. Next week, Mr Burnham will meet EU leaders at a summit in Brussels to agree a new post-Brexit agreement.
The Labour leader said he believed a "win-win" deal could be done with the EU that could be "more like the Brexit that people thought they were voting for in 2016". He added that he will "fight" to get a deal with the EU ahead of the summit, saying: "I believe we can get a good deal for Britain, and that's what I'll be fighting for over the coming days."
Meetings and Potential Gains
Mr Burnham has said agreements being thrashed out could boost GDP by 0.4% – with deals on food and farming, emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme.
On Thursday, he met with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the EPC summit. He said they were working to get a deal "over the line" for next week.
Mr Burnham said at the start of the bilateral meeting: "Obviously, we have a UK-EU summit seven days away now, a week tomorrow, and our teams – who are working very well – and we're really grateful to you and your colleagues.
"We have potentially a deal that can be good for businesses in the UK in terms of cutting red tape, reducing costs on business, but also good for consumers as well in terms of lowering prices. Good for young people potentially.
"But we've got to try and get this deal over the line, and that's what today is about."
The PM has also promised to set out "options" for a different long-term relationship with Brussels after years of fractious debates over Brexit. Recently, the EU's former top Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier warned of trade-offs for deeper ties with the bloc, saying there will be "no cherry picking".
