Nigel Farage has accused Andy Burnham of having no mandate to reopen the Brexit debate, following reports that Government officials are already discussing free movement with Brussels. The Reform UK leader said it was “very, very poor” that negotiators could be holding talks just months after the Prime Minister vowed not to revisit the referendum.
Cabinet minister refuses to deny talks
His comments came as a Cabinet minister repeatedly declined to deny that free movement was on the table. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, appearing on the same programme, said there had been “no assumptions made” about what follows next month’s summit. Pressed on whether officials were discussing free movement, he said: “They will be talking to them about what the future options for our relationship might be.”
Mr Farage told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Five months ago, Andy Burnham says … I’m not going to reopen these arguments. Two-and-a-half years ago, a Labour government got a massive majority in Parliament saying we will not be re-entering the single market, the customs union, or opening up a debate on the free movement of people.”
Labour MP breaks ranks
The Reform UK leader added: “What I am saying is this: this Prime Minister has no mandate, and to hear that his officials are negotiating in Brussels already is really very, very poor indeed.”
The Times has reported that UK and EU officials are holding talks about a potential return to free movement. Melanie Onn, Labour MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, said Labour’s 2024 manifesto had been “unequivocal” in ruling out the single market, customs union and free movement.
Writing on the Politics.co.uk website, she said: “That was a clear commitment made to the electorate, including in communities such as Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, where the Brexit vote reflected a deep sense that Westminster had stopped listening. Political trust is hard won and easily lost.”
No 10 stance and next steps
No 10 insists Mr Burnham is “not leaning either way” and will not change course this Parliament. He meets European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Friday, November 20.
