Labour frontbench warns Burnham against reviving Brexit debate
Labour frontbenchers warned Prime Minister Andy Burnham that his suggestion to revisit the UK's EU membership could alienate voters in former Leave areas and damage the party's prospects, the Telegraph reported. Burnham had earlier urged an honest debate on reinstating EU freedom of movement for workers, saying Britain should discuss the issue openly (Al Jazeera). Senior Labour ministers, including Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, backed his call for a free-movement discussion (The Guardian). He later told Good Morning Britain that the existing UK-EU agreement was inadequate but he would not seek a vote to re-join the EU during the current parliamentary term (ITVX).
Burnham also said the deal fell short for the economy and immigration control, ruling out any immediate re-entry or early election (The Guardian). In an interview with the Independent, he said he hoped the UK would re-enter the EU in his lifetime, but any change would require a public referendum. British officials indicated the upcoming November EU summit would focus on trade and youth mobility and could explore longer-term options such as free movement (The Guardian).
