Nigel Farage has accused Andy Burnham of a “total betrayal” after the Labour Prime Minister opened the door to restoring freedom of movement with the European Union.
The Reform UK leader hit back after Burnham called for an “honest discussion” about bringing back the migration rules British voters rejected when they voted to leave.
“This is a total betrayal of Brexit Britain and Burnham’s Makerfield pitch”, Farage said, pointing to the Prime Minister’s previous assurances that he would not reopen the Brexit arguments.
Farage also called Burnham “deluded” for claiming that “immigration was different when we were members of the EU”. He vowed to “fight this dishonesty”.
The Reform UK leader hit back after Burnham called for an “honest discussion” about bringing back the migration rules British voters rejected when they voted to leave.
“This is a total betrayal of Brexit Britain and Burnham’s Makerfield pitch”, Farage said, pointing to the Prime Minister’s previous assurances that he would not reopen the Brexit arguments.
Farage also called Burnham “deluded” for claiming that “immigration was different when we were members of the EU”. He vowed to “fight this dishonesty”.
This is a total betrayal
The row intensified on Monday morning as Burnham refused to close the door on fighting the next general election on a platform of taking Britain back into the bloc.
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, he said he would maintain Labour’s existing commitments to Brexit during this Parliament. But he left open what might follow at the next election.
Labour’s 2024 manifesto ruled out restoring freedom of movement or joining the single market or customs union. Burnham’s comments raise the prospect of those promises being rewritten when voters next go to the polls.
Reform UK’s Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf condemned Burnham’s willingness to consider restoring freedom of movement as “insanity”.
“Households with foreign nationals received a record £11.9 billion in Universal Credit welfare payments last year”, Yusuf said. “The majority of them are EU nationals.”
He warned: “Burnham is going to allow literally everyone who can secure citizenship to any EU country to move here.”
Yusuf also accused the Prime Minister of breaking his promises to constituents: “A total betrayal of the people of Makerfield whom he lied to, claiming he would not ‘reopen’ Brexit arguments.
“This is existential to the future of Britain.”
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, he said he would maintain Labour’s existing commitments to Brexit during this Parliament. But he left open what might follow at the next election.
Labour’s 2024 manifesto ruled out restoring freedom of movement or joining the single market or customs union. Burnham’s comments raise the prospect of those promises being rewritten when voters next go to the polls.
Reform UK’s Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf condemned Burnham’s willingness to consider restoring freedom of movement as “insanity”.
“Households with foreign nationals received a record £11.9 billion in Universal Credit welfare payments last year”, Yusuf said. “The majority of them are EU nationals.”
He warned: “Burnham is going to allow literally everyone who can secure citizenship to any EU country to move here.”
Yusuf also accused the Prime Minister of breaking his promises to constituents: “A total betrayal of the people of Makerfield whom he lied to, claiming he would not ‘reopen’ Brexit arguments.
“This is existential to the future of Britain.”
Burnham’s intervention was backed by Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, who used her appearance on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg to argue that closer ties with Brussels should be considered and proposals put before voters at a general election.
Rayner blamed the existing relationship for trade barriers and difficulties facing British businesses. Her comments reinforced the prospect of Labour seeking a fresh mandate to change Britain’s relationship with the EU.
Burnham, who is due to meet EU leaders in Brussels in November, said today that he would not restore freedom of movement without a referendum - but the British people already had a referendum on this question in 2016, which saw 17.4 million people vote to Leave.
Farage made clear that Reform would oppose any return to the system: “Reform will fight the next election on stopping freedom of movement.”
Rayner blamed the existing relationship for trade barriers and difficulties facing British businesses. Her comments reinforced the prospect of Labour seeking a fresh mandate to change Britain’s relationship with the EU.
Burnham, who is due to meet EU leaders in Brussels in November, said today that he would not restore freedom of movement without a referendum - but the British people already had a referendum on this question in 2016, which saw 17.4 million people vote to Leave.
Farage made clear that Reform would oppose any return to the system: “Reform will fight the next election on stopping freedom of movement.”
