Burnham Retreats on EU Rejoin; “Local Issues” in Makerfield
Andy Burnham is distancing himself from calls to rejoin the European Union after the weekend Streeting-Nandy backlash. A spokesman for the Greater Manchester mayor said publicly that Burnham will be campaigning on local issues in the Makerfield by-election and will not stand on a “national manifesto”. With the same line: “Burnham plays down rejoining EU as Labour battle reopens Brexit wounds”, quoting Burnham saying he is “not advocating” an immediate rejoin move but acknowledging there is a “case” for it long-term.
The retreat is itself a recognition that Reform UK’s “Brexit betrayal” line of attack is biting in Makerfield, the Sunday Telegraph having reported overnight that Reform intends to print Burnham’s 2025 Labour conference “I want to rejoin” line on its by-election leaflets. With “Backlash over Brexit betrayal”, quoting Lord Michael Gove warning that any rejoin would be a “betrayal”, and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch calling the policy a “disaster”. The Daily Express turns the question into a Farage-led integrity attack: voters “deserve honesty” from Burnham as he positions for power. The Independent quotes Lisa Nandy describing Streeting’s pitch as “odd” and akin to saying “life was fine in 2015, we just need to go back there”.