Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that the current Brexit deal is failing to deliver for the British public, noting that the UK’s departure from the European Union has resulted in a weaker economy and diminished control over national borders. Speaking on Monday, Burnham argued that the country ended up with a “harder Brexit than was proposed in the referendum campaign,” failing to provide the promised benefits.
Addressing the ongoing small boats crisis, the Prime Minister highlighted that the UK’s inability to return individuals to Europe has hindered border management. He specifically backed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s stricter immigration proposals, which include a requirement for foreign workers to wait 15 years before obtaining permanent residency. Burnham defended the plan, stating that settlement should be an earned right rather than an automatic benefit. According to backing the home secretary’s tougher immigration rules, he, Brexit had weakened the UK’s ability to control its borders as it could no longer send people back to Europe. According to explaining why he even brought up the possibility of “going all the way” in terms of closer relations with the EU, Burnham said: “Looking back at Brexit … I don’t think it has played out as people, It would at the time. And that might surprise people because that was the big issue, but the small boats crisis has risen since and we have a different form of immigration now.”, it’s also weakened our control of immigration. We’re way, way away from that at this particular point in time.
When asked on Good Morning Britain about a potential return to the EU, Burnham expressed a personal desire to see it happen in his lifetime but insisted he would not move faster than the public.
He emphasized that the British people remain the ultimate decision-makers and he would not force his own views on the electorate. He reaffirmed that he has no intention of rerunning the referendum or shifting from the red lines outlined in the Labour Party manifesto during the current parliament. You have to make sure that the British public are the bosses.”, i am not going to dictate in terms of my own opinions here.
Regarding future relations, the Prime Minister noted that while full rejoining is not on the agenda, he is seeking practical improvements. He identified the upcoming UK-EU summit on 20 November as an opportunity to secure a deal that would specifically aid British food manufacturers, who have been significantly impacted by the post-Brexit landscape. What I am saying is we need to take some practical steps to make the arrangement work better.”.
Burnham also dismissed any speculation regarding a potential early general election, despite recent polling indicating a positive trend for the Labour Party. He urged the public to dismiss rumors of an imminent vote, maintaining that there is no election scheduled for the near future.
Looking toward domestic policy, the Prime Minister suggested that the budget scheduled for Wednesday is intended to provide necessary “breathing space” for households and businesses. He characterized the incoming measures as a source of “light at the end of the tunnel” for the struggling economy.
The Prime Minister remains cautious about the political sensitivity of the Brexit debate, acknowledging concerns among Labour lawmakers representing constituencies that voted to leave. He reiterated that his focus remains on making the current arrangements function more effectively rather than reopening ideological disputes from the past. According to asked about the fact that 65% of his constituents in Makerfield voted to leave the EU, the prime minister said: “I, We wouldn’t rerun the referendum and that’s not what I’m doing.
