Andy Burnham reignited Brexit wars today as he declared he will use an EU summit next month as a launch pad for restoring ties.
The PM announced in the Commons that he will meet European commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on November 20.
He confirmed the two sides are looking at a deal to ease the movement of food and drink across borders – as well as a controversial youth ‘free movement’ scheme.
Hinting he wants to go even further, Mr Burnham told MPs there was an ‘opportunity’ to improve ties because the ‘status quo is not good enough’ for Britain.
But he also stressed that he wanted the meeting to be the start of a ‘serious dialogue’ about the future relationship.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch shot back that Mr Burnham was reopening old divisions, and had already given away his negotiating hand to Brussels.
Andy Burnham reignited Brexit wars today as he declared he will use an EU summit next month as a launch pad for restoring ties
Mr Burnham announced in the Commons that he will meet European commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on November 20 (file picture)
Mr Burnham used Labour’s conference in Liverpool last month to reveal he will set out ‘different options’ for the UK’s long-term relationship with the EU.
He also failed to rule out a future Labour election manifesto including a promise to rejoin the bloc.
In his statement to the Commons on Monday, the PM said: ‘If we are serious about promoting growth, controlling immigration, upholding our values and security, it is a conversation we must have.
‘Sticking with the status quo is not good enough for Britain. Worse, it would be a major dereliction of duty to turn away. We need to take a calm, clear-eyed, rational look at the world as it is today to consider what is best for our country.
‘Our immediate priority is securing a successful outcome at the summit, and I believe we should then set up a serious dialogue about the different options for our relationship in the long-term.
‘At every stage, the British public will be the boss, and I am clear that public opinion currently supports a pragmatic approach like the one I am suggesting.’
Mr Burnham said the upcoming UK-EU summit ‘presents an opportunity to make progress on two crucial issues: boosting UK growth and controlling illegal immigration’.
He said deals on the table could provide a £10 billion-a-year boost to the UK economy.
But he acknowledged there could be a row with Brussels over the protectionist ‘Made in Europe’ scheme.
He told MPs: ‘This summit presents an opportunity to make progress on two crucial issues: boosting UK growth and controlling illegal immigration.
‘On the table is a trade deal on food and drink products, a deal on emissions trading, progress towards linking our energy systems, a new youth experience scheme and deeper co-operation on immigration.
‘The summit will also be an opportunity to raise our concerns about Made in Europe and it is clear to me that there is an opportunity to make progress in all of these areas.’
But Mrs Badenoch said: ‘This is not how you conduct negotiations.’
She told the House: ‘What has the Prime Minister chosen to focus on today? Brexit.
‘His exact words earlier this year were, ‘the last thing we should do right now is re-run those arguments’.
‘And yet here he is unpicking the deal this country signed with the EU a decade after the referendum.
‘He is not going to get a better deal. The EU are tough negotiators, and it’s not just that the EU are tough negotiators, he has already revealed his entire negotiating hand.
‘He has just blurted out everything he wants in this statement and I will tell him now, as a former trade secretary, this is not how you conduct negotiations.’
Mr Burnham last month used his Labour conference speech to reopen the issue of EU membership, despite vowing before taking over from Keir Starmer that he would not.
Mr Burnham told Europhile party activists that he wanted to explore ‘options’ including committing to rejoin in the next election manifesto. He refused to say whether there would need to be another referendum.
Ahead of the Commons returning this afternoon, a No10 source said: ‘Andy understands why some politicians don’t want to face up to the reality that Brexit has not delivered what they once promised.
‘But it is time for a different conversation about what our long-term relationship should be.
‘Sticking with the status quo and not working relentlessly to secure a good deal that boosts growth would be a major dereliction of duty.’
Meanwhile, London mayor Sadiq Khan stepped up his drive for rejoining the EU, saying the ‘case has never been stronger’.
‘The Mayor believes that walking away from our largest trading partner was the biggest act of economic self-harm in the history of our country,’ a spokesman told the Standard.
‘That is why he wholeheartedly supports the Prime Minister’s ambition to seek a closer relationship with the EU to put our capital, country and continent on course for a more secure and prosperous future.’
He added: ‘The case for rejoining the EU has never been stronger – and Sadiq is clear that immediate steps should be taken to deepen integration with our European neighbours in order to boost our economy and drive-up living standards.’
More in Common polling released today underlined the scale of the challenge facing Mr Burnham in winning public support for any option.
Two-thirds of Brits were adamant a referendum would be needed to rejoin the EU.
But large proportions have tricky red lines, with 45 per cent saying any contributions to Brussels coffers would be unacceptable.
Some 40 per cent insisted access to UK fishing waters would be a dealbreaker – even though EU boats have been granted rights even after Brexit.
