'Divisive and destructive debate': Yorkshire MP pushes back on Burnham's EU referendum suggestion
Downing Street appeared to contradict Andy Burnham’s comments that a return to freedom of movement would have to be approved by a referendum.
Labour MPs are already pushing back on Andy Burnham’s suggestion that there could be a referendum on rejoining the European Union, as confusion reigned over No10’s Brexit strategy.
The Prime Minister’s call at the weekend for an “honest discussion” about a return to freedom of movement has fuelled questions about the parameters around his vision for closer ties with Brussels.
This morning, at a visit to a homelessness charity as part of his rough sleeping summit, Mr Burnham appeared to suggest that he would be open to holding a referendum about major changes to the UK’s relationship with Europe.
The Prime Minister said “no” when asked whether he would allow the UK to reinstate EU freedom of movement without a referendum, insisting he will “never move ahead of the British public when it comes to Brexit”.
In another, he ruled out the possibility of rejoining the EU within this Parliament, signalling that he could fight the next general election on a promise to take the UK back into the bloc.
Red Wall MPs have been pushing back on Mr Burnham’s suggestions around Brexit.
Veteran left-winger Jon Trickett, the MP for Normanton and Hemsworth, said: “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. It’s time to get on with reuniting the country by rebuilding the economy on a new basis prioritising regions like Yorkshire and the North.”
Jonathan Hinder, the Labour MP for Pendle and Clitheroe in Lancashire, said earlier in the year: “The idea that we can reconnect to our working-class base by reopening this debate is just a staggering level of out of touch.”
There was confusion around the Government’s policy on Brexit, when N10 appeared to push back on Mr Burnham’s suggestion that there would be a referendum around freedom of movement.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said we are “not at that stage yet” when asked whether the public would decide on proposals to get closer to the EU through a referendum or by voting on an updated Labour manifesto.
She was asked whether he would use a referendum or an election manifesto to put proposals to return to the arrangement, which he has said he wants an “honest discussion” about the prospect of, to the public.
She replied: “So, the Prime Minister isn’t proposing a return to freedom of movement, or any option.
“He is saying that it’s time for us to discuss what kind of long-term relationship with Europe is best for Britain and he is referring to the types of areas that that agreement and long-term future could cover.
“He is crucially not leaning either way, and that will be for the British public to decide. And his focus for now is on next month’s summit and the practical arrangements that we hope to make there, which will add billions to the economy.”
The Prime Minister is “not pre-empting any of that process”, she said.
Conservative Party Chair and Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake said: “Families and businesses across Yorkshire are facing much bigger problems right now.
“Taxes are too high, the benefits bill is too high and farmers are struggling. Yet the Prime Minister thinks taking us back into the European Union is the number one priority.
"Reopening the Brexit debate would be a disaster for business. Firms across Yorkshire need certainty to invest, hire and grow, and all this talk of rejoining does is create years of uncertainty over trade rules, regulation and costs.
“Our farmers and manufacturers cannot plan for the future when politicians keep relitigating the past.
"Andy Burnham needs to get serious, stop harking back to the past and focus on our country's future.”
Mr Burnham will meet EU chiefs including European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for a key summit in Brussels on November 20 as he seeks to strike a better deal with the bloc.
The Prime Minister wants to consider various longer term 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.
Mr Burnham told the Sunday Times he wanted to have a “very factual, quite evidence-based debate about this” as he acknowledged freedom of movement “had very significant challenges associated with it”.
He said he could not imagine recommending joining the Schengen borderless area or ditching the pound to adopt the euro.