Andy Burnham's top team has refused to back a return to free movement despite the Prime Minister's bid for closer ties to the EU, exposing splits among Labour's top ranks over the government's EU migration plans.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Asylum Minister Anna Turley both declined to back the move, suggesting the Home Office does not share Mr Burnham's desire to reopen the Brexit debate.
Home Office ministers decline to back free movement
Speaking to Sky News' Sam Coates, Ms Mahmood said she won't repeat her views on free movement in public. She added: "What I am keen on is abiding by our manifesto… I have views are a matter of public record and you're an enterprising journalist Sam, you can go and read and have trawl through what I think."
Meanwhile, when Ms Turley was asked if she wants to see the return of free movement, the minister said: "My priority is sorting out the system we've got… We've been very clear in manifesto we won't be having free movement in this country."
Asked to take part in the conversation about Brexit proposed by Mr Burnham, Ms Turley declined, saying: "We've got plenty of time before the next election."
Burnham insists he has not proposed free movement return
Mr Burnham has been forced to insist he has not proposed the return of freedom of movement between the UK and EU. But he said an "honest discussion" was needed about how temporary migration from Europe had been replaced by long-term settlement in larger numbers since Brexit.
In an interview with ITV airing on Tuesday, the Labour leader said: "I have not proposed freedom of movement coming back.
"I do believe that we should have an honest discussion with people about how immigration has changed since the Brexit vote because the shorter term migration of people coming from Europe and then going back has been replaced with long term settlement in bigger numbers, and that was the Boriswave."
He said this had "led to more illegal migration because we can't share data anymore" with European partners.
Confusion over Burnham's position on EU ties
Mr Burnham was pressed again on the issue after an interview last weekend where he called for an "honest discussion" about a return to freedom of movement prompted questions about how close the UK could become to Brussels.
Confusion deepened after further interviews, in which he first said there would be no shift within this Parliament and signalled that he could fight the next general election on a promise to take the UK back into the bloc.
In a second interview, he said "no" when asked whether he would allow the UK to reinstate EU freedom of movement without a referendum, forcing Downing Street to later clarify that he was "not leaning either way" on how to move forward.
Burnham commits to manifesto red lines
Mr Burnham told MPs in the Commons last week there was "no confusion at all" about his position when asked if he wanted a referendum on rejoining the bloc.
He committed to sticking to red lines set out in Labour's manifesto – which rule out returning to the customs union, single market or free movement – for the duration of this Parliament.
He also told his Cabinet to avoid publicly backing specific options for the UK's future relationship with the EU in a letter seeking to clarify his stance.
