Andy Burnham has promised Britain an honest conversation about Brexit, though yesterday's confusion over another referendum left the direction of that discussion unclear. The Prime Minister seemed to dismiss restoring freedom of movement without a new public vote, but Downing Street stated hours later that no referendum was under discussion.
Number 10 also declined to state whether the electorate would receive a voice at the upcoming general election, a possibility Angela Rayner mentioned a day prior. To be fair, Burnham has not actually proposed bringing back freedom of movement, insisting that Labour red lines on Brexit will stay in place for the remainder of this Parliament.
Instead, he wants the nation to evaluate whether its ties with Brussels function properly and to think about future possibilities. That could involve anything from tighter trade ties to reentering the single market or going back into the EU entirely.
Complications arise because Burnham has freely acknowledged he hopes Britain rejoins the bloc during his lifetime, whereas his spokeswoman maintains he favors no specific outcome. This conflicts with his pledge to constituents in strongly pro-Leave Makerfield earlier this year that he would avoid relitigating the Brexit debate.
For millions who supported Leave in 2016, freedom of movement was never a mere technicality for negotiation, as regaining control of immigration stood at the core of their choice. With the Labour Cabinet split, Nigel Farage discussing an alliance with the Conservatives, and Downing Street failing to clarify public consultation plans, past Brexit disputes are already returning.
