Brexit: rejoin promise will boost Labour in Yorkshire and the Humber, poll claims
It appears likely that Andy Burnham will include some sort of EU commitment in Labour’s next election manifesto, although he has indicated he could be open to another referendum.
Labour could struggle to hold a majority of MPs across Yorkshire and the Humber unless Andy Burnham commits to rejoining the European Union at the next election, a new megapoll has found.
The research, conducted by YouGov and commissioned by pro-EU campaign group Best for Britain, has claimed that if the party sticks to Sir Keir Starmer’s Brexit “red lines” then its vote share could plummet to 18 per cent, losing 36 MPs across the region.
However, if it pledged to rejoin the EU, the single market or the customs union, it would likely retain 63 per cent of its seats, according to the poll.
The party won 43 of the 54 seats across the region in the 2024 general election, which helped propel Sir Keir to a massive majority.
However, in this year’s local elections Labour faced near total wipeout in councils like Barnsley, Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield, losing 210 councillors.
This was mainly to Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, which is very strongly in favour of Brexit.
Since Mr Burnham has become Prime Minister, the party has surged back to the top of the polls, largely by taking voters off the pro-EU Liberal Democrats and Greens.
He has pledged to have an “open and honest conversation” about the UK’s relationship with Europe and has said he is ruling nothing out, including rejoining.
It appears likely that Mr Burnham will include some sort of commitment in Labour’s next election manifesto, although he has indicated he could be open to another referendum.
Tom Brufatto, policy and research director at Best for Britain, said: “This research shows how vital pledging to restore our EU membership is to win back the trust of voters - who have long made it clear they, rightly, see their and the UK’s future back at the heart of Europe.
“The Prime Minister must continue to be ambitious in our relationship with our allies and neighbours - a policy overwhelmingly popular with voters and key for Labour to retain a majority of its seats in Yorkshire and the Humber.”
Labour MP Paul Davies said: “Brexit has had a lasting negative effect not only in the Colne Valley but in the wider Yorkshire region – and across the UK.
“The Labour government has pledged lasting change and growth in every postcode, and a return to Europe can help deliver this. This report shows there is a clear appetite for this path amongst voters; all options should therefore be on the table, including full EU.”
However, not all Yorkshire Labour MPs are in favour of pursuing a closer relationship with the EU.
Normanton and Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett said recently: “I am not convinced that we should return to the destructive and divisive culture war debates about Brexit.
“We had a prolonged period of stifling national disputes and the people have already decided.”
Mr Burnham is due to sign a series of deals with the EU on November 20 at a special summit in Brussels.
They will be focused on bringing down post-Brexit trade barriers on food and farming, as well as working more closely on emissions trading, and making it easier for young people from the UK to work and live in Europe and vice versa.
Mr Burnham said: “Cutting red tape on food coming in and out of the country will ease pressure on prices at the supermarket, while making life easier for farmers and food producers.
“This summit will show what we can achieve when we work together, but it doesn’t need to be the end of our ambition.
“Working more closely with Europe could drive growth, make our country safer and give us more tools to tackle illegal migration. That’s a conversation worth having.”
This comes as Britain rejoins the Erasmus+ scheme in January, allowing students and young people to study, train or get work experience in the EU.
More than £30m is earmarked for youth projects, particularly in areas with historically low participation, including Yorkshire.