Nigel Farage has accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of plotting to open Britain's borders to 500 million EU citizens and hand over £40 billion a year as part of a plan to rejoin the bloc, warning that the upcoming Brussels summit is only the beginning of a sell-out.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Express, the Reform UK leader said: "It's now clear that Andy Burnham wants to open the borders to 500million people in the EU and pay over £40billion a year just for the privilege of rejoining."
He added: "It's time Brussels Burnham put the interests of the British people first, but if the Prime Minister wants this fight all over again, I say bring it on."
Tory warning over food laws
Tory shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood warned the reset would hand control of Britain's food laws back to Brussels. He told the Daily Express: "Labour's EU reset will hand control of Britain's food laws to Brussels, tying every farmer into costly EU rules – even those who never sell to the EU."
Wood added: "Labour are reopening the Brexit debates of 10 years ago to adopt EU rules wholesale. That means more compliance costs for businesses already hammered by the jobs tax, outdated regulations that hold our farmers back and higher costs of trading with the rest of the world."
He concluded: "When Labour negotiates, Britain loses. Only the Conservatives will stand up for British farmers – starting by reversing Labour's family farm tax."
Summit signals wider ambition
The row erupted after Mr Burnham used an article in the Sunday Mirror to hail this month's summit, saying it would "show what we can achieve when we work together". He added: "But it doesn't need to be the end of our ambition."
The Prime Minister jets to Brussels later this month for talks with Eurocrats, including European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. He has refused to rule out free movement or rejoining the single market in the long term, insisting only that he would not return to free movement without a referendum and would not rejoin the bloc in this Parliament.
Labour insists none of its so-called "red lines" will be crossed, but fears are growing that the Prime Minister is paving the way for a betrayal of the 17.4 million who voted Leave. Mr Burnham campaigned to stay in the EU and has repeatedly said he wants Britain back in the bloc "in my lifetime".
Express campaign history
For the Daily Express, the fight is nothing new. In 2010, the paper became the first national newspaper to demand Britain quit the EU, declaring that "from this day forth our energies will be directed to furthering the cause of those who believe Britain is Better Off Out". Five years later, David Cameron granted the in-out referendum, and in 2016, 17.4 million Britons voted to take back control.
Today, the Express is campaigning to Give Us A Proper Brexit, demanding Britain quit the European Convention on Human Rights, slash Brussels red tape and enforce a 12-mile fishing zone for British vessels only. Mr Farage credited the Express's role in the battle, telling the paper last week: "The Express led this in many, many ways."
Brexiteers warn that if Mr Burnham tries to undo the will of the people, he will find the same coalition that won in 2016 ready and waiting.
