Andy Burnham gags his Cabinet over rejoining the EU and orders ministers not to back any option publicly

Chancellor John Healey broke ranks with Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Thursday, saying he does not accept that growth would be stronger inside the EU or single market. Burnham has imposed Cabinet collective responsibility on Brexit, warning ministers who want to advocate specific options must first resign. The row erupts as Burnham's own position remains contested after contradictory statements on freedom of movement this week.
Eurosceptic Cabinet ministers Shabana Mahmood, Lisa Nandy and Yvette Cooper are among those muzzled by the collective responsibility order.
Burnham said the review of EU options would conclude with the government setting out 'the respective merits and drawbacks of the various options' for the next Parliament to decide.
Burnham also ruled out calling an early election within the next year, insisting he is 'not thinking about my own party and its prospects'.
