Andy Burnham signalled that he could look at the UK rejoining the European Union today as he attacked Brexit and its supporters.
The Prime Minister used his Labour conference speech to mock Brexiteers and claim the 2016 vote had ‘done more harm than good’ in a ‘decade of division’.
He said he would use a planned – but repeatedly delayed – summit with EU leaders to set out ‘the different options for Britain’s long-term relationship with our European partners’.
It came after being urged by party figures to include a vow to rejoin in the next election manifesto, something No10 refused to rule out after the speech.
‘I will see if we can find consensus around one which will give us clarity about the future on our continent,’ he added.
In a jibe at conservative supporters of leaving the EU Mr Burnham criticised their hope of ‘taking back control’ adding: ‘Never let them forget: they are the ones who gave it away in the first place.’
He added: ‘Brexit hasn’t given us control, we’ve lost some of the control we had over our economy, as a decade of low growth has put us in a weaker position,’ he said,
‘And we’ve lost some of our control over immigration.’
Officials said that Labour’s ‘red lines’ which bar rejoining the EU or its the single market – including freedom of movement – would remain in place until the next election only.
The Prime Minister used his Labour conference speech to mock Brexiteers and claim the 2016 vote had led to a ‘decade of division’ in Britain.
He said he would use a planned – but repeatedly delayed – summit with EU leaders to set out ‘the different options for Britain’s long-term relationship with our European partners’
The PM’s comments come after senior Labour figures have pushed for rejoining the EU in recent days.
London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has urged Mr Burnham to ‘start the work now’ on persuading the country about the ‘benefits’ of being back inside the bloc.
He said it was ‘not enough’ for the PM to suggest that restoring ties with Brussels could be in the next election manifesto.
Mr Burnham said he would ‘work to secure gains for our industries most harmed by Brexit’, adding: ‘We will not give Britain the clear path we need into the rest of the century until we decide on a long-term relationship with what is still our largest market.
‘I cannot say to you truthfully that where we are is good enough. Brexit has done more harm than good.
‘We need to restore a higher level of growth and prosperity for Britain.
‘So, I will take the opportunity around the summit to lay out to you, to the country what I believe are the different options for Britain’s long-term relationship with our European partners. And their are different options.
‘And I will see if we can find consensus around one which will give us clarity about our position and the future on our continent that we live in.’
However, the PM faces an uphill struggle to get a good deal out of the EU, with reports suggesting the summit, first due to happen in July, may not happen at all.
The two sides are at loggerheads over a ‘made in Europe’ law currently going through the European Parliament that is designed to protect the continent’s manufacturing from global competition, especially from China.
The UK wants to be included in the scheme, which would give EU firms priority for public contracts and subsidies.
Concerns have been raised that UK industries including car manufacturing and steel would suffer if the plan shut out British firms that trade across the UK-EU border.
Labour is said to have offered to cut tuition fees for EU students at UK universities, putting them on a par with those paid by domestic students, as a sweetener.
The Government is also prepared to lift the cap on a proposed youth mobility scheme, giving visa-free access to Britain for up to 100,000 under-30s.
But the EU is said to be demanding those concessions form part of the wider reset, saying it is not possible for the UK to join the ‘made in Europe’ scheme.
