𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Rachel Reeves has called for Britain to rejoin the EU as she launched an attack on Brexit. The former Chancellor claimed the UK’s departure from the bloc had made the country “poorer, weaker and less secure”.

Ms Reeves backed Prime Minister Andy Burnham over his push for closer ties with Brussels. Writing in The Sunday Times, the ex-Cabinet minister said: “I am proud of the progress we have already made in strengthening our relationship with the European Union.

“Brexit has made us poorer, weaker and less secure.

“There is a debate to be had about our future relationship with Europe, and I welcome Andy Burnham’s leadership in facing up to this. No one in the Treasury ever doubted where my instincts were.

“I do believe Britain’s future lies in the European Union.”

She added that it was “incumbent on supporters of our re-entry to make the argument, demonstrate tangible benefits and to get the next steps right”.

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But her comments sparked a blazing intervention from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who warned that the PM’s “fantasies about redoing the referendum” would put “the whole country on pause”.

It comes as Mr Burnham will set out options for the UK’s future relationship with Brussels after a joint summit later this month despite pledging not to “re-run” Brexit arguments when standing in the Makerfield by-election.

But any major change will have to wait until after the next General Election, as he has committed to Labour’s 2024 red lines on not returning to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.

The PM has not ruled out a pledge to rejoin the club without a referendum in Labour’s next election manifesto.