Prime Minister Andy Burnham has criticised Brexit for weakening Britain's economy and border controls, while leaving open the option of rejoining the European Union from possibly as soon as 2030.
In an interview with ITV's Good Morning Britain ahead of his 100 days in office on Tuesday, Mr Burnham stressed his desire to rebuild ties with Brussels and said he wanted the UK to return to the EU within his lifetime. He ruled out rejoining during this Parliament, which ends in 2029.
Criticism of Brexit outcome
“We got a harder Brexit than was proposed in the referendum campaign,” he said. “It's weakened our economy. It's also weakened our control of immigration, and that might surprise people because that was the big issue. But the small boats crisis has arisen since, and we have a different form of migration now. However, I'm not proposing rejoining in this Parliament.”
His words left open the possibility of the UK going back into the EU from 2030. Pressed on whether he wanted Britain to rejoin, he added: “I've said I'm going to be honest and say in my lifetime I would like to see that happen, but I am not going to move ahead of the public.”
Pressure from Labour MPs
Mr Burnham is facing calls from Labour MPs to put reversing Brexit in the party's manifesto for the next general election, expected in 2029. London Mayor Lord Sadiq Khan is leading Labour calls for Britain to rejoin the EU as polls show more and more people now believe Brexit was a mistake. Senior London Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry believes there is no need for a second referendum to ditch Brexit if the issue is put to the vote in Labour's next general election manifesto in 2029.
Earlier, Mr Burnham said he wants an “honest discussion” about the possibility of a return to free movement between the UK and the EU as part of his plans for a new relationship with the bloc. He wants to consider various options, potentially including a return to full EU membership or joining the single market, which would require free movement.
Political reactions
“I think you have to have a very factual, quite evidence-based debate about this,” he said. He has previously committed to the red lines in Labour's 2024 election manifesto, which ruled out the return of free movement, single market membership or a customs union, suggesting any fundamental change would have to wait until after a general election.
He will meet the European Union's chiefs at a summit on November 20 in Brussels, where he will push for closer trade and other ties. He has said he will use the opportunity around the summit to lay out to the British public different options for the future relationship with the bloc.
Nigel Farage said Mr Burnham's comments were a betrayal of voters who backed Brexit, including in his Makerfield constituency. The Reform UK leader said: “This is a total betrayal of Brexit Britain and his Makerfield pitch. He is also deluded to say immigration was different when we were members of the EU. We will fight this dishonesty.”
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Andy Burnham knows full well that a return to EU free movement would mean handing back control of our borders and allowing uncontrolled migration from across Europe. The British people voted to end free movement, and there can be no return to it.”
