Nigel Farage warned of a sell-out to Brussels (Image: Getty)
Brexiteers have vowed to fight Andy Burnham every step of the way after the Prime Minister signalled his Brussels summit is only the start of a sell-out. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, tore into the PM, warning he was plotting to throw open Britain’s borders and hand over billions to rejoin the bloc.
The furious backlash erupted after Mr Burnham hinted his love-in with Eurocrats later this month would be just the first step. Tories warned Britain’s farmers would be shackled to Brussels rules under Labour’s so-called EU reset, while Reform declared it was ready for war. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Express, Mr Farage said: “It’s now clear that Andy Burnham wants to open the borders to 500million people in the EU and pay over £40billion a year just for the privilege of rejoining.
“It’s time Brussels Burnham put the interests of the British people first, but if the Prime Minister wants this fight all over again, I say bring it on.”
Tory shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood warned the reset would hand control of Britain’s food laws straight back to Brussels. He told this paper: “Labour’s EU reset will hand control of Britain’s food laws to Brussels, tying every farmer into costly EU rules – even those who never sell to the EU.
“Labour are reopening the Brexit debates of 10 years ago to adopt EU rules wholesale. That means more compliance costs for businesses already hammered by the jobs tax, outdated regulations that hold our farmers back and higher costs of trading with the rest of the world.”
He added: “When Labour negotiates, Britain loses. Only the Conservatives will stand up for British farmers – starting by reversing Labour’s family farm tax.”
The row exploded after Mr Burnham used an article in the Sunday Mirror to hail this month’s summit, saying it would “show what we can achieve when we work together”. But he sparked alarm by adding ominously: “But it doesn’t need to be the end of our ambition.”
The PM jets to Brussels later this month for crunch talks with Eurocrats, including European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. He has refused to rule out free movement or rejoining the single market in the long term, insisting only that he would not return to free movement without a referendum and would not rejoin the bloc in this Parliament.
Labour insists none of its so-called “red lines” will be crossed. But fears are growing that the Remainer Prime Minister is quietly paving the way for a full-blown betrayal of the 17.4million who voted Leave.
Mr Burnham campaigned to stay in the EU and has repeatedly said he wants Britain back in the bloc “in my lifetime”. For this newspaper, the fight is nothing new. Back in 2010, the Daily Express became the first national newspaper to demand Britain quit the EU.
We declared that “from this day forth our energies will be directed to furthering the cause of those who believe Britain is Better Off Out”.
The crusade was laughed off by the Westminster establishment. But hundreds of thousands of readers flooded in to back it, and five years later David Cameron finally caved and granted the in-out referendum that changed history.
In 2016, this paper threw everything behind the Leave campaign, and 17.4million Britons voted to take back control.
Today, the Express is campaigning to Give Us A Proper Brexit, demanding Britain quit the European Convention on Human Rights, slash Brussels red tape and enforce a 12-mile fishing zone for British vessels only.
And Mr Farage himself has credited the Express’s role in the battle, telling this paper last week: “The Express led this in many, many ways.” Brexiteers warn that if Mr Burnham tries to undo the will of the people, he will find the same coalition that won in 2016 ready and waiting.
NIGEL FARAGE WARNS ‘BRUSSELS BURNHAM’ IS PLOTTING A BREXIT SELL-OUT – IT COULD COST BRITAIN BILLIONS!
Nigel Farage has launched a fierce attack on Prime Minister Andy Burnham, accusing him of preparing to undo Britain’s Brexit achievements through a controversial new agreement with the European Union.
The Reform UK leader has warned that the Prime Minister’s increasingly friendly approach towards Brussels could represent the beginning of a much wider political shift, potentially involving closer European integration, changes to immigration arrangements and billions of pounds in additional financial commitments.
Farage has made his position unmistakably clear: he believes Britain must not surrender the independence secured through the 2016 referendum.
The latest confrontation comes as Burnham prepares for a major UK-EU summit in Brussels on November 20, where several agreements covering trade, energy and youth mobility are expected to be discussed.
For Brexit supporters, the meeting represents a crucial moment.
They fear that what the government describes as a practical reset could gradually become something much bigger.
Farage Delivers Brutal Warning to Burnham
Speaking to the Daily Express, Farage accused the Prime Minister of wanting to take Britain back towards EU membership.
He warned that Burnham’s ambitions could eventually mean reopening Britain’s borders to freedom of movement and committing substantial sums of taxpayers’ money to the European Union.
Farage declared:
“It’s time Brussels Burnham put the interests of the British people first, but if the Prime Minister wants this fight all over again, I say bring it on.”
The Reform leader also suggested that the public needed to understand the potential financial and political consequences of returning to the European Union.
His comments demonstrate that Reform intends to make Britain’s relationship with Brussels a central issue in its political campaign.
The £40 Billion Warning
One of the most striking elements of Farage’s intervention was his claim that rejoining the European Union could cost Britain more than £40 billion annually.
This figure formed part of his criticism of Burnham’s longer-term ambitions.
However, it is important to distinguish Farage’s political warning from an independently established estimate of the cost of EU membership.
The actual financial arrangements would depend on the terms negotiated if Britain ever applied to rejoin.
Britain currently makes financial contributions to certain European programmes, but full membership would involve a different financial framework.
The government has not announced any decision to rejoin the EU.
Nevertheless, the possibility of a future return has become an increasingly prominent part of the political debate.
What Is Burnham Planning in Brussels?
The November 20 summit is expected to focus on three major areas of cooperation.
These include:
- Agricultural trade: Reducing unnecessary border checks and administrative barriers affecting British food exporters.
- Emissions trading: Exploring closer cooperation between British and European carbon markets.
- Youth mobility: Establishing arrangements allowing younger people to live, work and study abroad for limited periods.
The government believes the proposed agreements could generate substantial economic benefits.
Estimates suggest the package could add approximately £17 billion to UK GDP over time.
Supporters argue that reducing trade barriers would help British businesses, supermarkets, farmers and exporters.
However, critics are concerned about the financial commitments and regulatory obligations that could accompany closer cooperation.
Conservatives Also Raise Concerns
The controversy is not limited to Reform UK.
Conservative politicians have also criticised Burnham’s approach.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood warned that closer alignment with European food regulations could place additional burdens on British farmers and businesses.
He argued that companies selling exclusively within Britain could still be affected by changes to domestic regulatory arrangements.
For farmers already dealing with higher operating costs, taxation and uncertainty, the possibility of additional regulatory requirements has become another source of concern.
The Conservatives insist that Britain should maintain the freedom to establish its own policies.
Is Freedom of Movement Returning?
Perhaps the most controversial issue is immigration.
Burnham has indicated that Britain should have an honest discussion about the possibility of restoring some form of freedom of movement with the European Union.
That position has generated strong criticism from Farage.
The Reform leader argues that restoring freedom of movement would undermine one of the central promises of the Leave campaign.
However, Burnham has not announced an immediate return to unrestricted movement.
He has also said that he would not recommend joining the Schengen border-free area or adopting the euro.
Any fundamental change to Britain’s relationship with Europe would require further political consideration and public approval.
The Brexit Vote Still Casts a Long Shadow
In 2016, 17.4 million people voted to leave the European Union.
The referendum represented one of the most significant political decisions in modern British history.
For Leave supporters, Brexit was about restoring control over immigration, legislation, trade policy and national sovereignty.
For Remain supporters, leaving the EU created unnecessary economic barriers and weakened Britain’s influence in Europe.
Nearly a decade later, those disagreements remain unresolved.
Burnham believes the country needs a more constructive relationship with Brussels.
Farage believes the government risks reopening divisions that voters already settled.
Both sides understand that the political consequences could be enormous.
Could Labour Put Rejoining in Its Next Manifesto?
Another important question concerns Labour’s next general election manifesto.
Burnham has suggested that the country should examine different long-term options, potentially including full EU membership.
However, Labour’s existing manifesto commitments rule out rejoining the single market, customs union and restoring freedom of movement during the current Parliament.
The Prime Minister has also said that fundamental changes should be decided by the public and a future Parliament.
This means that the November summit should not automatically be interpreted as a decision to reverse Brexit.
Nevertheless, the prospect of a future referendum or a manifesto commitment to rejoin could become a major electoral issue.
Farage Sees a Political Opportunity
For Nigel Farage, the growing disagreement over Brexit provides an opportunity to present Reform UK as the party defending the referendum result.
He believes voters who supported Leave could become increasingly concerned if Labour moves towards closer European integration.
Reform is likely to argue that Britain should focus on controlling its borders, improving domestic productivity and developing international trade independently.
Burnham, meanwhile, will need to convince voters that closer European cooperation can deliver economic benefits without undermining national sovereignty.
The political battle is only beginning.
Britain’s Future Could Be Decided in the Coming Months
The Brussels summit on November 20 could become an important moment in the future relationship between Britain and the European Union.
Although the immediate agreements are focused on practical cooperation, the wider political debate concerns how far Britain should move towards Brussels.
Farage has made clear that he intends to oppose any attempt to reverse Brexit.
Burnham insists that Britain’s long-term relationship with Europe deserves an honest examination.
The financial consequences, immigration arrangements and question of democratic approval will remain central to the argument.
For millions of British voters, the issue is about much more than trade agreements.
It is about whether the decision made in 2016 will continue to shape Britain’s future.
THE BIG QUESTIONS:
- Is Andy Burnham quietly preparing Britain for another EU membership campaign?
- Should Britain risk billions in additional financial commitments to rejoin Brussels?
- Would restoring freedom of movement undermine Brexit?
- Is Nigel Farage right to challenge Labour’s European ambitions?
- Should voters be given another referendum before any fundamental change?
One thing is certain: Nigel Farage is preparing for another major battle over Britain’s future, and he has no intention of allowing the Brexit debate to disappear quietly.