Burnham pursues EU reset amid Labour concerns about Reform backlash

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 7 Nov, 17:53 · Archive

Prime Minister Andy Burnham plans to pursue closer ties with the EU at a summit on 20 November, despite concerns from senior Labour figures that reopening the debate could boost support for Reform UK.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to pursue closer ties with the European Union at a crunch UK-EU summit scheduled for 20 November in Brussels. He hopes to 'reset' the Brexit deal agreed by his predecessor Boris Johnson, describing it as having done 'more harm than good' to the country. The new agreement is expected to remove border checks on food and agricultural products after the UK aligns itself with Brussels rules, and will also include a youth mobility scheme and participation in emissions trading. Burnham estimates the deal could grow the UK economy by 0.4%.

Burnham's ambitions represent a marked shift from his campaign messaging earlier this year. During his bid to become MP for Makerfield last summer, he stated that 'Brexit has been damaging, but the last thing we need right now is to re-run those arguments' and said he respected the referendum vote. However, he has previously expressed a desire to see the UK rejoin the EU in his lifetime, a position he appears ready to pursue now that he is in power.

The approach is causing significant anxiety within the Labour party. According to the Telegraph, senior ministers and MPs fear that reopening the Brexit debate could push voters back towards Reform UK, particularly in constituencies that voted Leave in 2016. Senior Cabinet members including John Healey, Lisa Nandy and Yvette Cooper oversee such seats. One minister told the paper: 'He's opened up a debate without a plan. It has just opened a lot of old wounds and reignited support for Reform that was waning.' Another insider reported that ministers were 'going back and checking referendum results in their seats' to assess electoral risk.

Concerns also centre on the lack of clarity around the government's broader EU strategy. Some figures worry whether the arrangement will eventually push Britain towards full EU membership, customs union membership or freedom of movement for EU citizens. The BBC reports that Michel Barnier, the EU's former chief Brexit negotiator, has cautioned that the UK cannot rejoin the single market 'à la carte', suggesting Brussels will not permit the selective adoption of EU policies.

How it is being reported

• Andy Burnham says new deals with the EU 'not the end of our ambition'EXCLUSIVE: The PM is working on deals with the EU on food and farming, alongside a deal on emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme, but vowed there is more to come as he seeks closer ties with the blocThe Mirror · 7 Nov, 18:13
• The three pitfalls Burnham faces ahead of Brussels summitAndy Burnham wants to readdress the UK's relationship with the EU, but the upcoming summit has some specific issues to tackle firstThe i Paper · 7 Nov, 17:50
• Andy Burnham wants to get closer to the EU - but he shouldn't expect a smooth rideLaura Kuenssberg talks to government insiders about the prime minister opening the conversation about the UK rejoining the EU.BBC News · 7 Nov, 17:32
• Andy Burnham's EU reset bid sparks fear within Labour over 'reigniting support for Reform'Andy Burnham's top team is concerned the Prime Minister's bid to bring Britain closer to the EU risks bolstering support for Reform UK. The Prime Minister is due to hold an "honest conversation" at a crunch UK-EU summit on November 20, where he is expected to buckle to the demands of the bureaucratic bloc. But some of the party's most senior MPs and ministers are fearing that Mr Burnham's lunge towards Brussels could put them at risk at the next general election, The Telegraph revealed. Senior ministers admitted that reopening the debate could push voters towards the pioneering Brexiteers in…GB News · 7 Nov, 08:20
• Burnham's Brexit Gamble – Is The PM Playing With Fire Ahead Of Crunch EU Summit?Andy Burnham could not have been clearer during his campaign to become the MP for Makerfield in the summer. “ Brexit has been damaging, but the last thing we need right now is to re-run those arguments,” he said. “I respect the [Brexit] vote and am not suggesting rejoining the EU.” And yet here we are, less than six months later, with the prospect of the UK going back into the European Union a live one at Westminster. It should be noted, of course, that Burnham’s comments back in May were driven by the politics of the situation he found himself in. He was running in a seat which voted…HuffPost UK · 6 Nov, 17:00

In this story: Andy Burnham · Labour · Reform UK · European Union · United Kingdom · Makerfield

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