Burnham pushes MPs towards closer EU deal as Farage hits liar charge

Andy Burnham will tell MPs on Monday that refusing to chase a new deal with the EU would be a dereliction of duty, as he presses the Commons to back a closer relationship with Brussels. The Evening Standard reports he is expected to repeat the line that Brexit has done more harm than good and to urge every party to get behind the Government’s approach, claiming it could help control immigration and lift growth.

A No 10 source said Andy understands why some politicians will not face the reality that Brexit has not delivered what was once promised, yet insisted it is time for a different conversation about the long-term relationship. Sticking with the status quo and failing to work relentlessly for a good deal that boosts growth would, the source argued, be a major dereliction of duty.

At the Labour conference in Liverpool last month Mr Burnham said he would set out the options for Britain’s long-term ties with Europe around a UK-EU summit planned for the end of the year. He has already floated the possibility that those options could include rejoining the bloc. That is the direction of travel now being put before the House.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey piled on, telling Mr Burnham to drop Labour’s red lines against rejoining the customs union or single market. Davey said his party would engage with anyone sharing the vision of fixing the broken relationship so Britain’s economy and defences can be strengthened, warning that every day of delay does more damage and calling for trading links to be restored and new barriers torn down.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage answered in plain terms at a press conference in Hythe, calling Mr Burnham a liar. Farage stated there was no Russian interference and that the Russia hoax has run all the way through this. The Commons statement lands a day after Mr Burnham told a podcast it was clear Russia had interfered in the 2016 referendum and that the UK and its allies had been too much on the back foot. Sovereignty was hard won. MPs now face a clear choice about whether to give it away again.

Original source: Evening Standard