However, such a move is likely to anger Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who was forced to water down her migration crackdown just days ago amid fury from the backbenches.

Meanwhile, sources said Mr Burnham was left “irritated” by his Chancellor”s quip about Britain rejoining the EU in the coming years.

Speaking to Channel 4 News, Mr Healey joked he did not “expect to see” a return to Brussels within his lifetime as he was older than the Prime Minister.

The comments came just days after Mr Bunrham said he would like to see Britain become a member state again, but insisted he would “not move ahead of the public”.

The Chancellor’s remarks had annoyed Mr Burnham amid fears Cabinet risked appearing divided ahead of the UK-EU summit, senior Whitehall sources told The i Paper.

One insider told the newspaper: “It is seen as unhelpful for the Cabinet to be seen as divided ahead of what are expected to be quite complex discussions.”

Another source, meanwhile, suggested Mr Healey “needs reigning in”.

“Few Labour MPs who want a long-term future in the Labour Party are likely to want to commit hari-kari over (closer ties with the EU) and I would put Shabana Mahmood and Healey into this category,” a senior Whitehall source said.

Mr Burnham is said to believe accepting the EU’s freedom of movement may be the key to unlocking meaningful concessions from Brussels.

However, the Prime Minister has not yet settled on offering to throw open Britain’s borders to the bloc.

Yesterday, the EU’s former chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said Britain adopting the EU’s freedom of movement is “not negotiable” if it wishes to regain membership.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Barnier said it was “possible to negotiate” for Britain to enter into talks to rejoin the EU without adopting the Euro, usually a requirement for all new member states.

He said: “But what is, and what remains unnegotiable, is the condition to join the single market. There is no negotiation possible. No possible negotiation on any kind of cherry-picking or the single market ‘a la carte’.

“The UK knows quite perfectly the condition to be part of and to rejoin the single market and the customs union.”

Mr Barnier added: “As far as the freedom of movement is concerned, I can only repeat that the four freedoms are linked together and are not negotiable.”

However, a return to freedom of movement risks sparking public fury amid the Government’s pledge to slash migration.

Re-opening the borders to the bloc would inevitably increase the numbers of migrants coming to Britain, a senior Whitehall source said, unless the Government found another way to reduce the flow.

Leaked documents have suggested the EU could stop Mr Burnham from deporting migrant criminals as part of Labour’s reset deal.

The bloc’s demands have emerged within a draft statement prepared ahead of this month’s crunch summit.

The document, seen by Sky News, shows Brussels will demand Labour “commits not to proceed with… removals and deportations” of migrant criminals in Britain from member state countries.

The push comes after the Home Office was given the green light to deport migrant criminals once they are sentenced earlier this year.

The contents of the draft statement have yet to be signed off by the EU’s member states.

Andy Burnham ‘Irritated’ With John Healey Over Fresh Brexit Rift, Insiders Claim

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reportedly been left irritated with Chancellor John Healey following another disagreement over Britain’s future relationship with the European Union, raising fresh questions about divisions inside Labour’s Cabinet.

The latest disagreement centres on Healey’s comments about the possibility of Britain rejoining the EU, which appeared to contradict the Prime Minister’s increasingly enthusiastic statements about reversing some of the consequences of Brexit.

The dispute has reportedly caused frustration inside Downing Street, with senior sources warning that public disagreements between the Prime Minister and his Chancellor could undermine the Government’s negotiating position ahead of crucial discussions with Brussels.

One insider reportedly described the Chancellor’s intervention as unhelpful, suggesting that Cabinet ministers needed to present a more united position.

The controversy has reignited the debate over whether Burnham is preparing to take Britain towards a much closer relationship with the EU, despite previous promises to respect the result of the 2016 referendum.

It also raises an uncomfortable question for Labour: can the Prime Minister pursue his European ambitions while keeping senior ministers representing traditionally pro-Brexit constituencies on board?

Burnham Reportedly Frustrated by Healey’s Brexit Comments

The latest tensions emerged after John Healey was questioned about whether he expected Britain to rejoin the European Union during his lifetime.

Speaking to Channel 4 News, the Chancellor responded with a remark that appeared to pour cold water on Burnham’s ambitions.

Healey joked:

“I’m older than Andy Burnham. I don’t expect to see that.”

The comment was interpreted by political observers as a clear indication that the Chancellor did not share the Prime Minister’s long-term enthusiasm for returning to the European project.

Healey subsequently emphasised that his immediate responsibility was to secure the best possible economic agreement with Brussels.

However, reports suggested that Burnham was irritated by the timing of the remarks, particularly with an important UK-EU summit approaching.

A senior Whitehall source reportedly told the i Paper that it was unhelpful for Cabinet ministers to appear divided ahead of complicated negotiations.

Another insider suggested that Healey needed to be brought into line with the Government’s wider communications strategy.

The disagreement has highlighted the difficulties facing Burnham as he attempts to establish a consistent position on Brexit.

Why John Healey Is Reluctant to Promise Britain Will Rejoin the EU

Healey’s position is particularly important because he represents a different political calculation from the Prime Minister.

While Burnham has increasingly spoken about the potential benefits of European integration, Healey has concentrated on making the current post-Brexit arrangements work.

The Chancellor has acknowledged that Brexit has affected Britain’s trade and economic growth.

However, he has also argued that the Government must work within the reality created by the 2016 referendum.

Speaking to LBC, Healey questioned whether simply returning to the EU or single market would automatically solve Britain’s economic problems.

He stressed that his responsibility was to strengthen the economy under the existing arrangements.

His comments suggest that he wants closer practical cooperation with Europe without necessarily committing himself to full membership.

This distinction matters because Britain can negotiate individual agreements with the EU without immediately reopening the question of membership.

For Healey, the immediate priority appears to be economic stability, investment and securing favourable trading arrangements.

For Burnham, however, the longer-term political discussion appears to extend much further.

Andy Burnham’s European Ambitions Are Becoming Clearer

Since becoming Prime Minister, Burnham has repeatedly suggested that Britain needs to reconsider its relationship with the European Union.

He has argued that leaving the bloc has weakened the British economy and created difficulties for businesses.

The Prime Minister has also said that he would like to see Britain rejoin the EU during his lifetime.

However, he has insisted that he will not move ahead of public opinion.

During an interview with ITV News on November 3, Burnham made clear that he had not proposed restoring freedom of movement.

He also promised to respect Labour’s existing manifesto commitments for the remainder of the parliamentary term.

Those commitments rule out rejoining the single market, customs union or restoring freedom of movement during the current Parliament.

Nevertheless, Burnham wants a broader national conversation about Britain’s future relationship with Europe.

He believes the public should be able to consider the economic and political consequences of the existing arrangements.

The difficulty is that reopening Brexit risks bringing back some of the political divisions Labour has previously tried to avoid.

Cabinet Ministers Fear Another Brexit Political Battle

The disagreement between Burnham and Healey comes amid wider concerns about the Government’s approach to Europe.

Reports have suggested that several Cabinet ministers are uncomfortable with the Prime Minister’s decision to reopen the debate.

Some fear that Labour could alienate voters in traditionally pro-Brexit constituencies.

This is particularly sensitive for ministers who represent areas that voted Leave in 2016.

John Healey is among those who must balance national government responsibilities with the political views of constituents.

Other senior Labour figures have also expressed caution about the potential consequences of reopening the Brexit debate.

The concern is that Labour could end up fighting an argument that risks distracting attention from economic growth, public services and immigration.

One reported ministerial concern is that the Government has opened a debate without explaining exactly what it wants to achieve.

This could create uncertainty among voters, businesses and Britain’s European partners.

Downing Street has maintained that Burnham intends to explain the available options and seek a national consensus.

However, the precise destination of the Government’s European policy remains a subject of political disagreement.

The EU Reset Deal Could Become a Major Test

The forthcoming UK-EU summit in Brussels is expected to be an important moment for Burnham’s administration.

The Prime Minister is seeking agreements covering several areas, including food and agricultural standards, emissions trading and youth mobility.

These arrangements could help reduce some of the practical difficulties created by Brexit.

For British businesses, particularly those involved in food production and exports, reducing unnecessary administrative barriers could make trading with European customers easier.

However, closer alignment with EU regulations also raises questions about Britain’s ability to establish independent rules.

Burnham has acknowledged that certain agreements could mean Britain becoming a rule-taker in specific areas.

He has defended this approach as a practical way of working with European partners.

Critics, meanwhile, argue that the Government must explain the economic benefits and potential disadvantages before accepting additional obligations.

The Chancellor’s comments are therefore particularly significant.

Healey will be responsible for the economic consequences of any agreement and will need to consider its effects on public finances, investment and British businesses.

His cautious approach may reflect the practical responsibilities of the Treasury rather than outright opposition to closer European cooperation.

Nigel Farage and the Conservatives Watch Labour’s Divisions

Labour’s renewed Brexit debate has also provided an opportunity for its political opponents.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has repeatedly criticised Burnham’s approach, accusing the Prime Minister of attempting to reverse Brexit without obtaining a fresh public mandate.

The Conservatives have also questioned whether Labour is respecting the outcome of the 2016 referendum.

Kemi Badenoch has challenged Burnham over the possibility of reopening the debate and has accused him of creating uncertainty about Britain’s future.

For Reform UK, the issue provides an opportunity to appeal to voters who remain strongly committed to Brexit.

The Conservatives also face pressure to establish a clear position on Britain’s relationship with Europe.

Meanwhile, Labour must avoid allowing disagreements between senior ministers to dominate the political conversation.

The more publicly divided the Cabinet appears, the more difficult it may become for Burnham to explain his European strategy.

Could the Disagreement Damage Labour’s Economic Strategy?

The relationship between the Prime Minister and Chancellor is particularly important because economic policy and European negotiations are closely connected.

Healey needs to provide businesses with confidence about Britain’s future trading arrangements.

Companies making long-term investment decisions want clarity about regulations, market access and the cost of doing business.

If senior ministers appear to disagree about the direction of European policy, businesses may find it harder to understand what changes could eventually be introduced.

There is also the question of public confidence.

Many voters want the Government to concentrate on living costs, employment, housing and public services rather than reopening old political arguments.

Burnham believes closer European ties could help improve Britain’s economic prospects.

Healey, meanwhile, has emphasised the importance of making the existing arrangements work.

Both positions involve different assumptions about the economic opportunities available to Britain.

The Government will need to explain the evidence behind its approach rather than relying on political rhetoric.

Conclusion: Burnham and Healey Face a Difficult Test Over Brexit

The reported irritation between Andy Burnham and John Healey highlights the continuing divisions within Labour over Britain’s future relationship with the European Union.

Burnham has made clear that he would like Britain to rejoin the EU during his lifetime, although he insists that he will not move ahead of public opinion.

Healey has taken a more cautious approach, focusing on securing practical economic benefits from the current relationship rather than promising a return to membership.

His joke about not expecting to see Britain rejoin during his lifetime has reportedly caused frustration among some figures close to the Prime Minister.

The disagreement is particularly sensitive with important negotiations with Brussels approaching.

Labour now faces the challenge of balancing its European ambitions with the views of voters who supported Brexit and the practical responsibilities of government.

For Burnham, maintaining Cabinet unity will be essential if he wants to pursue closer ties with Europe.

For Healey, the priority remains delivering economic improvements without making promises that may prove politically or economically difficult to fulfil.

The coming weeks will reveal how the Government intends to reconcile these competing positions.

One thing is certain: Brexit remains far from settled as a political issue, and the disagreements inside Labour’s Cabinet show that Britain’s relationship with Europe will continue to shape the Government’s future.