𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham’s patriotic constituents warned him he could face a “revolt” if he pushes for a “sneaky” Brexit U-turn. As the Express chatted with residents in Ashton-in-Makerfield near Wigan, in Greater Manchester, one retired police officer said a new EU referendum would be “an affront to democracy”. The Prime Minister sparked concern by revealing he wanted an “honest conversation” about bringing in free movement in a new deal with the EU, accepting that may require a new referendum. But on the streets of his constituency, which voted 65% to leave the EU in the 2016 Brexit referendum, locals told the Express that Burnham would get short shrift if he tried it.

Retired Greater Manchester Police John Pagett, 68, said that Burnham even being prime minister was an “affront to democracy” in the first place. The grandfather-of-two, of Hindley, near Wigan, served as a copper for 25 years and only took two weeks off sick during that time.

But he said opening borders and allowing free movement could put our creaking benefits system under even more strain. John said of any new EU referendum: “It’s an appalling idea. We already have one million people in this country out of work. We don’t need any more.

“Andy Burnham can’t lie straight in bed. I don’t believe a word he says. In fact, I think the way he came into Downing Street as PM, and now this EU idea, are affronts to democracy. I have a police pension and my state pension, but I am finding things tough with the cost of living and bills going up.

“Burnham should concentrate on that rather than worrying about closer ties to the EU. It was supposed to be a once-in-a-generation referendum – not a once-every-10-years referendum. I bought my own house. I worked all my life. I did all the right things for society. Burnham should be looking after people here who voted 65% to leave the EU.”

As she filled up the boot of her car with shopping, 70-year-old grandmother-of-three Linda was incandescent with rage when the Express suggested Burnham wanted a Brexit U-turn.

Asking us to withhold her surname, she exploded: “I have been furious seeing the boats packed with young men from war zones landing on the beaches of Dover. What if we had free movement? There could be millions. Labour want free movement because they are addicted to cheap labour, but how will that help the young people of this country ever find a job? It’s a disgrace.

“I never voted for Burnham, and if he pushes something like this through, I hope he could have a revolt on his hands and be out on his backside in the next General Election.” Best friends Kerry Curson, 38, and Yasmin Ratcliffe, 39, work together at Rose’s Café in Makerfield after Yasmin named the popular diner after her late mum who passed away in the Covid pandemic.

Married mother-of-three Yasmin said: “They said the EU referendum was a one-off, so I don’t want another one. This town clearly voted to leave, and maybe Andy Burnham should respect that as he’s our MP.

“We’ve only just had a by-election here and that saw people pitted against each other – Labour and Reform – and I don’t want another big vote. Saying that Andy never came into our café the whole time he was campaigning here so maybe he should swing by and try the best cooked breakfast around!”

Married co-worker Kerry pitched in from behind the counter and a stack of delicious-looking slices of lemon drizzle cake. She quipped: “Another referendum? No thanks!”

Retired Crane driver Terry Murray, 79, said: “No, I don’t think we should have another referendum. Regardless of who people voted for, we don’t need another one of those, thanks. I have been impressed with Burnham so far, and he could do a good job for Makerfield – but Labour couldn’t do a worse job than what they’ve done, can they?”

The former coal-mining town near Wigan has voted in a Labour MP in every election for the last 120 years – and voted in Burnham in a by-election in June, with many floating voters backing him just to get rid of then PM Sir Keir Starmer. Furious retired teaching assistant Julie Clarke, 72, stood outside B&M in the Gerard Centre, in Makerfield, told us: “What a load of rubbish. What, open the borders and let millions of people in? What an idiot.

“This town voted for Brexit, as did I, and they won’t stand for it if Andy Burnham tries to either sneakily get closer ties to the EU, like freedom of movement, or if he goes all out with a full EU referendum. We voted for Brexit, and we want full Brexit – I don’t think we’ve even had that yet.”

Former Heinz factory worker Allan Bramhall, 57, said there would be pros and cons to holding a new referendum on the EU – but was sure that many Makerfield residents would be unimpressed with Burnham over it. Yet Allan admitted: “There would be pros and cons but I would vote to join the EU I reckon. Since Brexit, food prices feel they have increased, and farmers seem to be struggling more, instead of doing better.

“We used to talk about the ‘butter mountain’ with dairy farmers producing a surplus of goods but it feels we have gone the other since those days. We used to do so much trade with the EU and maybe we could again if we rejoined?”

Jean Johnson, 70, agreed with Allan, saying: “I think we should go back to the EU. It hasn’t been the success people hoped. Plus I travel abroad a lot on holiday, and it would make it a lot cheaper!”