There are signs Andy Burnham might be cooling on his dream of rejoining the EU today after he suggested his ‘reset’ deal can be the ‘Brexit people voted for’.
The PM claimed he was implementing the result of the 2016 referendum as he prepares to make big concessions to seal the package at a crunch summit next week.
After holding talks with EU leaders in Dublin, Mr Burnham hinted the new terms could be enough – saying the Cabinet would decide ‘what, if anything, comes next’.
Before entering Downing Street Mr Burnham made no secret of his wish to see the UK rejoin the bloc in his lifetime.
He previously vowed to use the summit next week to ‘set up a serious dialogue’ about the UK’s longer-term ties.
The PM suggested he would set out ‘different options’ for voters, refusing to rule out a commitment to rejoining in the next Labour manifesto.
But his call for an ‘honest discussion’ about a return to freedom of movement has prompted a frenzy in Labour circles.
Andy Burnham met EU commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Dublin yesterday
Both Chancellor John Healey and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood appeared sceptical of the idea in interviews.
The tensions forced Mr Burnham to write to the Cabinet ordering them not to back any particular outcome in public.
After attending the European Political Community in Dublin yesterday, Mr Burnham said he believed a ‘win-win’ deal could be done with the EU that could be ‘more like the Brexit that people thought they were voting for in 2016’.
He added: ‘The requests are coming from the European side. We are putting our requests on the table, too.
‘I believe there is a good deal to be done that could be a win-win for Britain and Europe. It actually could be more like the Brexit people thought they were voting for in 2016.’
Asked about the next steps after the summit, Mr Burnham said ‘we’ll take a decision as a Cabinet on what, if anything, comes next’.
There are reports that a big Brexit speech pencilled in for November might now not happen.
However, any retreat by Mr Burnham from his pro-EU agenda might spark trouble from the other wing of his party.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is understood to have put himself forward to spearhead the effort to sell the latest deal to the public.
One insider told the Daily Mail: ‘There is a confidence amongst Ed and others that public mood has turned and SW1 is behind the curve.’
Concerns are growing that Mr Burnham will make deep concessions to get better trade terms at the UK-EU summit next Friday.
They could include contributions to Brussels coffers, a youth ‘free movement’ scheme and taking some of the bloc’s rules.
Member states are also gearing up to play hardball over demands for cut-price tuition fees, while the UK might need to impose tariffs on Chinese cars to align with the bloc’s stance.
At the start of a bilateral meeting with commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Dublin yesterday, Mr Burnham said: ‘Obviously, we have a UK-EU summit seven days away now, a week tomorrow, and our teams – who are working very well – and we’re really grateful to you and your colleagues.
‘We have potentially a deal that can be good for businesses in the UK in terms of cutting red tape, reducing costs on business, but also good for consumers as well in terms of lowering prices. Good for young people potentially.
‘But we’ve got to try and get this deal over the line, and that’s what today is about.’
Ms von der Leyen thanked officials for working ‘tirelessly’ in ‘hard negotiations’ ahead of next week’s ‘important’ summit.
In a post on X after the talks, she wrote: ‘Good to meet Andy Burnham in Dublin today, ahead of next week’s EU-UK summit in Brussels.
David Cameron has urged Andy Burnham not to rejoin the EU and reopen a ‘painful’ argument
‘Let’s make it a summit of ambition and concrete results. More opportunities for young people. Easier agrifood trade. And a stronger cooperation on economic security.
‘We are very much looking forward to welcoming you in Brussels next week.’
Former PM David Cameron delivered a stark warning earlier this week that the UK must not go back into the EU, urging Mr Burnham to stop blaming Brexit for the UK’s economic woes.
In a major intervention, the ex-Tory premier cautioned that reopening the ‘painful argument’ would not do any good.
Lord Cameron saw his own premiership derailed by his loss in the 2016 EU referendum, during which he led the Remain campaign.