Andy Burnham has reignited the Brexit debate by saying he intends to use next month’s EU summit as the starting point for rebuilding Britain’s relationship with the bloc.
The Prime Minister told MPs in the Commons that he will meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on November 20.
He confirmed that Britain and the EU are exploring an agreement to make it easier for food and drink to cross their borders, alongside a controversial youth scheme that could restore limited freedom of movement.
Suggesting that he hopes to pursue a broader reset, Mr Burnham told MPs there was an opportunity to improve relations because the current arrangements were “not good enough” for the UK.
He described maintaining the existing Brexit settlement as a “major dereliction of duty” and said the Brussels meeting should mark the beginning of a “serious dialogue” about the future of the UK-EU relationship.
However, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Mr Burnham of reopening old Brexit divisions and claimed he had already revealed too much of Britain’s negotiating position to Brussels.
Andy Burnham has reignited the Brexit debate by pledging to use next month’s EU summit as a launchpad for rebuilding ties with Europe
Mr Burnham told the Commons that he will meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on November 20 (file picture)
Mr Burnham previously used Labour’s conference in Liverpool last month to announce that he would examine “different options” for the UK’s long-term relationship with the European Union.
He also declined to rule out the possibility of a future Labour election manifesto containing a pledge to rejoin the bloc.
Speaking in the Commons on Monday, the Prime Minister said: “If we are serious about delivering economic growth, managing immigration, protecting our values and strengthening security, this is a conversation we cannot avoid.
“The status quo is not good enough for Britain. Turning away from this opportunity would be worse — it would be a major dereliction of duty. We must take a calm, clear-eyed and rational assessment of the world as it exists today and decide what is best for our country.
“Our immediate focus is securing a successful result at the summit. After that, I believe we should begin a serious discussion about the different long-term choices available for our relationship with the EU.
“At every stage, the British public will remain in charge. I am clear that public opinion currently favours the pragmatic approach I am setting out.”
Mr Burnham said the upcoming UK-EU summit could deliver progress on two key priorities: stimulating economic growth and tackling illegal immigration.
He said the proposals under discussion could generate an estimated £10 billion boost for the UK economy each year.
The Prime Minister also accepted that negotiations could become strained over Brussels’ protectionist “Made in Europe” initiative.
Addressing MPs, Mr Burnham said: “This summit gives us a chance to advance two crucial objectives: increasing UK growth and controlling illegal immigration.
“The proposals include a trade agreement covering food and drink, a deal on emissions trading, steps towards connecting our energy networks, a new youth experience scheme and closer co-operation on immigration.
“The summit will also allow us to voice our concerns about Made in Europe. It is clear to me that progress can be made across all of these areas.”
Mr Burnham also said he would not revisit Labour’s ‘red lines’ on Brexit – including n not rejoining the EU’s single market or customs union – prior to the next general election.
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‘As much as I want to improve growth in the UK, I also want to maintain trust in politics, and I’m afraid I’m not prepared to revisit the red lines in our manifesto,’ the PM told the Commons.
But Mrs Badenoch said: ‘This is not how you conduct negotiations.’
She told the House: ‘What has the PM chosen to focus on today? Brexit.
‘His exact words earlier this year were, ‘the last thing we should do right now is re-run those arguments’.
‘And yet here he is unpicking the deal this country signed with the EU a decade after the referendum.
‘He is not going to get a better deal. The EU are tough negotiators, and it’s not just that the EU are tough negotiators, he has already revealed his entire negotiating hand.
‘He has just blurted out everything he wants in this statement and I will tell him now, as a former trade secretary, this is not how you conduct negotiations.’
Mr Burnham last month used his Labour conference speech to reopen the issue of EU membership, despite vowing before taking over from Keir Starmer that he would not.
Mr Burnham told Europhile party activists that he wanted to explore ‘options’ including committing to rejoin in the next election manifesto. He refused to say whether there would need to be another referendum.
Ahead of the Commons returning this afternoon, a No10 source said: ‘Andy understands why some politicians don’t want to face up to the reality that Brexit has not delivered what they once promised.
‘But it is time for a different conversation about what our long-term relationship should be.
‘Sticking with the status quo and not working relentlessly to secure a good deal that boosts growth would be a major dereliction of duty.’
Meanwhile, London mayor Sadiq Khan stepped up his drive for rejoining the EU, saying the ‘case has never been stronger’.
‘The Mayor believes that walking away from our largest trading partner was the biggest act of economic self-harm in the history of our country,’ a spokesman told the Standard.
‘That is why he wholeheartedly supports the Prime Minister’s ambition to seek a closer relationship with the EU to put our capital, country and continent on course for a more secure and prosperous future.’
He added: ‘The case for rejoining the EU has never been stronger – and Sadiq is clear that immediate steps should be taken to deepen integration with our European neighbours in order to boost our economy and drive-up living standards.’
More in Common polling released today underlined the scale of the challenge facing Mr Burnham in winning public support for any option.
Two-thirds of Brits were adamant a referendum would be needed to rejoin the EU.
But large proportions have tricky red lines, with 45 per cent saying any contributions to Brussels coffers would be unacceptable.
Some 40 per cent insisted access to UK fishing waters would be a dealbreaker – even though EU boats have been granted rights even after Brexit.
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