Andy Burnham Signals Possible EU Re-entry Debate While Prioritising a New UK-EU Summit

He said the government’s focus is on a UK-EU summit later this year and that discussions about a Labour Party manifesto commitment to re-joining the European Union are “for another day.” Burnham also noted concerns that the EU’s “Made in Europe” legislation could affect British industry and supply chains.

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Labour’s current “Brexit red lines,” set by former leader Keir Starmer, have been a point of internal debate. Lord Kinnock, a former Labour leader, has urged Burnham to place a case for EU re-membership in the next election manifesto, while some Labour MPs who supported Brexit remain wary. The summit, originally slated for early November, was postponed after EU negotiators refused to guarantee a UK exemption from the “Made in Europe” rules, which aim to curb China’s influence in European industry.

iNewsThe Guardian

He confirmed a bilateral meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday, pledging to raise the UK’s concerns “in a constructive spirit.”

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Conservatives and Reform have warned that any move toward EU re-membership could be portrayed as a betrayal of working-class voters who backed Brexit, and could be used by the opposition to question Labour’s commitment to the 2016 referendum outcome.

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• “And as I said, my immediate priority is to build on the good work that Keir [Starmer] did in rebuilding bridges. Because those bridges were broken in the early part of this decade. And Keir did a good job in re-establishing that relationship.” — Save Andy Burnham

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• “We do have concerns about Made in Europe, which is something that could affect British industry and British supply chains,” — Burnham. Burnham

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