Andy Burnham is facing challenges as the topic of Brexit resurfaces amid Wes Streeting’s recent comments advocating for rejoining the EU. This comes at a critical time for Burnham, who is focused on winning a by-election in a pro-Brexit constituency, where he risks opposition from Nigel Farage. Streeting’s remarks have been deemed unhelpful and even sabotaging by Burnham’s camp, despite Burnham himself previously mentioning the possibility of rejoining the EU.
Burnham emphasized the need to move forward from the Brexit debate, stating that while Brexit has been harmful, rehashing arguments is not the solution at present. His priority is reconnecting the Labour Party with working-class voters, making the EU argument seem counterproductive to his goals.
The stakes are high for Burnham in the Makerfield constituency, where the Reform party garnered significant support in recent elections, posing a challenge to Labour’s position. Public sentiment nationwide leans towards rejoining the EU, as indicated by polling data showing majority support for such a move.
However, the current Labour leadership has clarified that reversing Brexit is not a current agenda item, with many believing it is not the right time to revisit the issue. Labour MP Jonathan Hinder expressed disbelief that the Brexit debate has resurfaced at a critical juncture, emphasizing the public’s priorities and the potential consequences of reigniting the divisive topic.