Andy Burnham has always wanted back in (Image: Daily Express)
Being a backbench MP may be one of the worst jobs in Parliament. Your party won the election, but from the back of the class you have next to no say in what goes on. There is, however, one useful service a backbencher can perform. He can roll the pitch for the Government.
That, I suspect, is exactly what Chris Ward was doing when he took to the pages of The Guardian on Monday. Mr Ward, as he is keen to point out, is not just your ordinary backbencher. No, no, he was Starmer’s man when Sir Keir was Shadow Brexit Secretary, don’t you know?
And it was he who co-wrote the Brexit red lines in Labour’s 2024 manifesto: no rejoining the EU, no single market, no customs union, no return to freedom of movement.
Now their author says they should be pensioned off (given a “dignified retirement”) by the next General Election.
More revealing is his explanation of why they existed at all. The red lines, he wrote, were “designed precisely to close down the debate and to narrow the target” Brexit had become for Labour.
It might be one of the more honest statements made by a politician in recent years, a clear admission that a pledge in a manifesto was not a matter of principle but rather a tool to get through an election.
He is of course not alone; Remainers travel in packs. Several MPs have now suggested the time is right for Andy Burnham to consider sacking off the Brexit vote and Rejoin.
The pitch is being prepared, one roller at a time, and the man at the crease is ready.
Mr Burnham, the regular ordinary bloke who became our Prime Minister in July, has said he wants Britain back in the EU in his lifetime, while insisting he is “not proposing any changes in this Parliament”.
He has called for an “honest discussion” about free movement and has said a single market option could go in a Labour manifesto.
Soon he will sign a deal, about which we know remarkably little, with his suitors in Brussels.
Mr Burnham has promised that every policy must pass his “Makerfield test”, aka: it must improve life in the Leave-voting seat he now represents.
Yet polling, which suggests his own constituents want laws made here, not in the EU, suggests his plans fail that test.
To be fair to Mr Ward, his case is not entirely frivolous. He argues that Britain can no longer rely on America, which is itself a serious point in a dangerous world.
But Britain can stand shoulder to shoulder with France and Poland without letting Brussels write its food standards or decide who settles here. Membership of NATO never required the single market.
The danger is not one MP’s article. It is what it tells us about the last manifesto – and the next one.
A red line with a retirement date was never a red line. It was a sales pitch. And the sale, it seems, is nearly closed.
ANDY BURNHAM’S MAN JUST REVEALED HIS HAND – REVERSING BREXIT IS NOW ON THE TABLE AS BRITAIN FACES A MAJOR POLITICAL BATTLE!
Britain’s future relationship with the European Union has returned to the centre of political debate after a close political ally of Prime Minister Andy Burnham opened the door to a possible reversal of Brexit.
The issue has attracted growing attention following comments from Hamish Falconer, the minister responsible for European relations, who has repeatedly declined to rule out the possibility of Britain eventually rejoining the European Union.
For millions of people who voted Leave in 2016, the prospect of reversing Brexit remains deeply controversial. For those who supported Remain, however, the possibility of rebuilding Britain’s relationship with Europe represents an opportunity to reconsider a decision that continues to influence the country’s economy and international position.
The political stakes are considerable, particularly as Labour attempts to balance its ambitions for closer European cooperation with the views of voters who remain firmly committed to Brexit.
Has Labour Changed Its Position on Brexit?
The debate has intensified since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister.
During his political career, Burnham has expressed support for closer relations with Europe and has previously indicated that he would like to see Britain rejoin the European Union during his lifetime.
Since entering Downing Street, he has adopted a more cautious approach, insisting that any significant changes must reflect public opinion.
However, his government has now begun examining different possibilities for Britain’s long-term relationship with Brussels.
These include:
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- A closer customs relationship with the European Union.
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- Greater access to the European single market.
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- Additional cooperation on trade and security.
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- A possible return to full EU membership.
The inclusion of full membership in the discussion represents a significant development in Britain’s post-Brexit political debate.
Hamish Falconer’s Role Raises Questions
Hamish Falconer has become an important figure in discussions about Britain’s relationship with the European Union.
As the minister responsible for European relations, his position gives him an important role in shaping the government’s approach to negotiations with Brussels.
His refusal to completely exclude the possibility of future EU membership has attracted attention among politicians on both sides of the Brexit argument.
However, there is an important distinction between discussing a potential policy option and committing the government to implementing it.
Burnham has indicated that fundamental changes to Britain’s relationship with Europe would ultimately require public approval.
The government has also maintained that the immediate priority is exploring practical agreements that could improve cooperation without automatically reversing Brexit.
Could Britain Really Rejoin the European Union?
The possibility of rejoining the EU would involve a complicated political and legal process.
Britain would need to apply for membership under Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union.
Any application would require unanimous approval from existing member states, followed by negotiations over the terms of membership.
The UK would also need to accept the obligations associated with EU membership.
These could include financial contributions, the application of European law and participation in the wider framework of the single market.
Questions surrounding the euro and other membership arrangements would also need to be addressed.
Rejoining would therefore not simply mean reversing the 2016 referendum through a single government announcement.
It would require extensive negotiations and a clear political mandate.
Nigel Farage and Brexit Supporters Are Watching Closely
The possibility of reversing Brexit is likely to remain a major political issue for Nigel Farage and Reform UK.
Farage has built much of his political career around Britain’s departure from the European Union.
He has consistently defended the referendum result and criticised proposals that could bring Britain closer to European political institutions.
Reform UK argues that the country should focus on making Brexit work rather than reopening the membership question.
Conservative politicians have also raised concerns about the possibility of returning to EU institutions.
Their argument is that voters made a democratic decision in 2016 and that governments should respect that result.
The debate therefore extends beyond economic policy and touches on questions of national sovereignty, democratic accountability and Britain’s international identity.
What About the Economic Consequences?
Supporters of closer European integration argue that Brexit has created additional barriers for British businesses.
Customs procedures, regulatory differences and restrictions on trade have increased administrative difficulties for some exporters and importers.
They believe closer alignment could improve access to European markets and reduce unnecessary costs.
The government has already explored agreements involving food standards, energy cooperation and trade arrangements.
Supporters argue that deeper cooperation could provide economic benefits without necessarily requiring immediate full membership.
However, critics warn that closer alignment could limit Britain’s ability to establish independent regulations and trade arrangements.
They also question whether the potential economic gains would justify the obligations associated with closer European integration.
These are questions that any future government proposal would need to address.
Labour Faces a Difficult Political Balancing Act
For Andy Burnham, the challenge is managing competing expectations within his own political movement.
Some Labour supporters want Britain to move towards full EU membership.
Others favour a closer trading relationship without returning to the political structures of the European Union.
There are also voters who supported Brexit and would strongly oppose any attempt to reverse the referendum decision.
This creates a difficult political calculation.
Burnham has repeatedly emphasised that the public must have the final say on fundamental changes.
He has also said that the government should not ignore opportunities to improve Britain’s relationship with Europe.
The distinction between exploring possibilities and making an electoral commitment will therefore be central to the coming debate.
The Next EU Summit Could Be Important
Britain’s relationship with Brussels is expected to remain a priority as negotiations continue.
The next major UK-EU summit is scheduled for November 20, 2026.
Discussions are expected to cover areas including food and drink trade, emissions trading and youth mobility.
These agreements could form part of a broader effort to improve cooperation.
Burnham has also indicated that the government intends to set out its thinking about Britain’s longer-term relationship with Europe.
However, he has instructed ministers not to publicly campaign for individual options while the government considers its approach.
Any fundamental change would be a matter for the public and a future Parliament.
Could Brexit Become a Major Election Issue Again?
The prospect of rejoining the EU could have important consequences for the next general election campaign.
Political parties may be forced to explain exactly what relationship they want Britain to have with Europe.
Labour could face questions about whether closer cooperation is enough or whether it ultimately wants full membership.
The Conservatives and Reform UK are likely to emphasise the importance of respecting the referendum result.
Meanwhile, pro-European campaigners will argue that Britain should reconsider its long-term position.
The debate could therefore become one of the defining political questions of the coming years.
Britain’s European Future Remains Uncertain
Ten years after the Brexit referendum, Britain is still debating what its relationship with Europe should look like.
Andy Burnham has opened discussions about a wider range of possibilities, while Hamish Falconer’s position has added further attention to the possibility of eventual EU membership.
But no decision to rejoin has been made.
The government must still consider the economic consequences, political implications and public opinion before deciding whether any fundamental change should be pursued.
For Brexit supporters, the priority remains protecting the independence established by leaving the European Union.
For those who regret Brexit, the latest developments provide an opportunity to reopen a debate they believe should never have been permanently closed.
THE BIG QUESTIONS:
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- Should Britain consider rejoining the European Union?
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- Would a closer trading relationship be enough without full membership?
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- Should the public be given another referendum?
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- Has Brexit delivered the economic benefits voters were promised?
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- Should Labour include EU membership in its next election manifesto?
One thing is clear: Britain’s relationship with Europe is once again a major political question, and the decisions made over the coming years could shape the country’s future for generations.