Unearthed Video Clip May Impact Andy Burnham Makerfield By Election

Andy Burnham is very clear that the Makerfield by-election should not be about Brexit.

Speaking at an event on Monday, the Labour leadership hopeful said: “Brexit has been damaging, but the last thing we need right now is to re-run those arguments.

“I respect the [Brexit] vote and am not suggesting rejoining the EU.”

Unfortunately for the Greater Manchester mayor, his political opponents are determined not to follow his desired script.

On Saturday, Wes Streeting – who could be facing off against Burnham to be the next prime minister within weeks – used his first public comments since quitting the cabinet to pin his colours firmly to the European Union mast.

Leaving the EU had been, he said, a “catastrophic mistake”.

“We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain’s future lies with Europe – and one day back in the European Union,” Streeting declared.

This immediately shone a light on Burnham’s own views about Brexit, which he made clear as recently as last year’s Labour conference in Liverpool.

“Long-term, I’m gonna be honest, I’m gonna say it: I want to rejoin,” he told a Guardian event. “I hope in my lifetime I see this country rejoin.”

Helpfully, a video of the mayor’s remarks was uncovered and is now being widely shared on social media.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has also leapt on Burnham’s comments, vowing to make Brexit a key issue between now and polling day on June 18.

“At a time when millions of voters are demanding control of our borders, he continues to advocate re-joining a European project built around the free movement of 500 million people,” he told the Daily Express.

The controversy has led some senior Labour figures to question whether Burnham – who will be confirmed as the party’s by-election candidate later this week – can see off the Reform challenge.

One told HuffPost UK: “I could get on the Andy bandwagon. But I watched and read Andy’s interviews over the weekend and thought – ah. He sounds exactly like he did in 2015. It was unclear and blustering. It gave me pause for thought.

“He’s going to be ring rusty because he hasn’t had to fight in a decade. He needs to shake it off quickly because in the first few days he’s been given a schooling by both Wes and Reform.”

Another party insider said: “It’s incredible that he went into the first weekend with nothing to say. He was a sitting duck.

“The people around him need to wise up because he’s playing on a different level now. They think that ‘Brand Andy’ will see them through and they need to sharpen up, quickly.”

However, one Labour figure in the north-west of England said the row would have no bearing on the final result, given Burnham’s personal popularity.

“He will walk the seat,” the source said. “Voters around here love him.”

Others in the party question Wes Streeting’s decision to raise the Brexit issue at all, given the deep splits within Labour over the issue.

“Reaction to his rejoin campaign has been pretty dead in the water,” an insider said. “I’ve not seen rejoice. It’s just led to a negative reaction and a tough conversation about what would rejoining actually look like.

“I wonder if some Labour Remainers are actually upset at Wes for going too early before the public and the party are ready for it – causing two days of infighting throughout the party. It shows really poor judgement.”

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