𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham has left the door open to putting the case for Britain rejoining the European Union in Labour’s next election manifesto. The Prime Minister dodged the question when he was asked to rule out a path back to the bloc. His refusal is likely to provoke Brexiteer fury, especially as Mr Burnham has previously said he would like to see the UK back inside the EU in his lifetime.

Asked by reporters if he would rule it out the PM said: “Our focus at the moment is on a UK/ EU summit which we hope will take place later this year. And as I said my immediate priority is to build on the good work that Keir did in rebuilding bridges. Because those bridges were broken in the early part of this decade. And Keir did a good job in re-establishing that relationship.”

The Labour leader said he wants to take things to the “next level” in our relationship with the EU.

He added: “And what we have got to do is now go to the next level in terms of reaching practical agreement that will further boost the British economy.

“And those issues are the substance of the summit alongside EU requests around youth mobility.

“We do have concerns about Made in Europe, which is something that could affect British industry and British supply chains.”

Mr Burnham is due to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyern at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday.

He said: “I will, in a constructive spirit, put on the table some of our concerns towards those things.

“At the same time as working towards what we hope will be a successful EU-UK summit later this year.”

His remarks come after Neil Kinnock, the former Labour leader, urged his successor to put the case for Britain rejoining the EU in the next Labour party manifesto.

“The case for putting membership of the European Union in Labour’s next manifesto is necessary to repair the damage done by Brexit and, vitally, regain the full economic, political and cultural opportunities, influence and trust that were so needlessly lost,” he told the i paper.

His intervention is significant, as the Prime Minister has identified him as one of his political heroes.

Mr Kinnock, who was Labour leader between 1983 and 1992, is staunchly pro-EU and also served as a European commissioner.

Despite previously saying he would like to see Britain rejoin the EU in his lifetime, Mr Burnham has so far steered clear of seeking to reverse Brexit since he became PM.

Many in the Labour Party fear any attempt to rejoin would be politically risky and reopen toxic divides in the country. T

hey also fear that it would be seized on by the Conservatives and Reform as evidence that the party is willing to betray working-class voters who backed Brexit.