Andy Burnham has been accused of contradicting his earlier promise not to reopen the Brexit debate, with critics questioning his consistency on the issue. The comments come as he prepares to attend a UK-EU summit in Brussels.
Promise and Contradiction
In May, during the Makerfield by-election, Burnham told voters: "Brexit has been damaging, but I also believe the last thing we should do right now is rerun those arguments." However, by September, he stated that Britain had a choice to stay as it is, pursue a customs union, join the single market, or "go all the way" and rejoin the EU.
He also expressed a personal desire to see Britain return to Brussels in his lifetime. Last weekend, he called for an "honest discussion" about restoring freedom of movement between Britain and the EU, a topic central to the 2016 referendum.
Clarifications and Reactions
Burnham has since insisted he is not proposing to restore free movement without a referendum. Downing Street subsequently said he was not advocating any particular option. He has also ruled out rejoining the EU during this Parliament but has not ruled out fighting the next general election on the issue.
Critics argue that opening the door to hundreds of thousands of young European workers at a time of high youth unemployment could turn the discussion into an argument. Burnham maintains that the British public must be "the bosses" on the matter.
Political Calculations
Burnham will be in Brussels on 20 November for the UK-EU summit, seeking a new deal. He says Brexit has "weakened our economy and weakened our control of immigration".
Observers suggest his approach aims to see off the Green Party and win the next election against a right split three ways between the Conservatives, Reform, and Restore. In Makerfield, where 65% of voters chose to leave the EU, he told voters what they wanted to hear, and now he is telling the left what it wants to hear.
