Andy Burnham has torn into Brexit for hitting Britain’s economy and border controls as he left open the option of rejoining the European Union from possibly as soon as 2030.
He ruled out Britain rejoining the EU during this Parliament, which ends in 2029.
Anti-Brexit campaigners protest outside Parliament
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“We got a harder Brexit than was proposed in the referendum campaign,” he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain in an interview ahead of his 100 days in office on Tuesday.
“It's weakened our economy. It's also weakened our control of immigration, and that might surprise people because that was the big issue.
“But the small boats crisis has arisen since, and we have a different form of of migration now.
“However, I'm not proposing rejoining in this Parliament.”
His words left open the possibility of the UK going back into the EU from 2030.
Pressed whether he wanted Britain to rejoin, he added: “I've said I'm going to be honest and say in my lifetime I would like to see that happen, but I am not going to move ahead of the public.”
Lord Sadiq Khan who has highlighted the damage caused by Brexit
London Assembly
The Prime Minister wants to consider various options for a new relationship with Brussels, potentially including a return to full EU membership or joining the single market, which would require free movement.
“I think you have to have a very factual, quite evidence-based debate about this,” he said.
The Prime Minister has previously committed to the red lines in Labour’s 2024 election manifesto, which ruled out the return of free movement, single market membership or a customs union, suggesting any fundamental change in the relationship would have to wait until after a general election.
He will meet the European Union’s chiefs at a summit on November 20 in Brussels where he will push for closer trade and other ties.
He has said he will take the opportunity around the summit to lay out to the British public different options for the future relationship with the bloc.
Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson led the Brexit campaign
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The Reform UK leader said: “This is a total betrayal of Brexit Britain and his Makerfield pitch.
“He is also deluded to say immigration was different when we were members of the EU. We will fight this dishonesty.”
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Andy Burnham knows full well that a return to EU free movement would mean handing back control of our borders and allowing uncontrolled migration from across Europe.
“The British people voted to end free movement, and there can be no return to it.”