𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham has sent his office into chaos after hinting at a return to freedom of movement, with his aide forced to settle the media storm. The PM angered Brexiteers after suggesting a public vote on free movement, before his team insisted he was “not leaning either way”. It followed an eye-opening interview with The Sunday Times at the weekend, when the PM said he wanted a “very factual, quite evidence-based debate” on free movement.

A rattled Nigel Farage, who has always backed Brexit, declared it a “total betrayal” of the 17.4million Brits who voted to leave.

The following morning, Mr Bunham said he wanted to start an “honest conversation” about the benefits of reintroducing freedom of movement as part of a new deal with the EU, during TV interviews. He added: “I don’t think things have worked out as they said they would at the time, particularly when it comes to immigration.”

But he insisted Britain would only have free movement following a referendum, vowing to “never move ahead of the British public when it comes to Brexit”.

By lunchtime, his press team were desperately trying to quell the furore, stating the PM was not set on rejoining the free market. However, a vote was not ruled out, with the statement that it was for the “British public to decide”.

A No 10 spokeswoman said: “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.”

She added: “He is crucially not leaning either way, and that will be for the British public to decide.”

At the Labour conference in September, Mr Burnham pledged to explore closer ties with the bloc. In a follow-up interview with the BBC, the Prime Minister said options could include staying “exactly as we are”, a closer relationship with the EU, or rejoining the EU customs union.

He is reportedly considering either full EU membership or joining the single market, which would mean accepting free movement. The PM said an in-out referendum may feature in future Labour manifestos, while ruling out any immediate action.

The intervention marks the second time this month that Downing Street has had to clarify the PM’s remarks on Brexit, after he suggested the 2016 referendum result was influenced by disinformation spread by the Kremlin.