The Newshound

Andy Burnham gags his Cabinet on EU options after Kemi Badenoch accuses him of failing to respect the Brexit vote

Andy Burnham and Kemi Badenoch clash at PMQs as Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds refused to give his personal view on free movement, offering only "the Government line.
Andy Burnham and Kemi Badenoch clash at PMQs as Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds refused to give his personal view on free movement, offering only "the Government line.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ordered Cabinet ministers to avoid publicly backing any specific options for Britain's future relationship with the EU, issuing a letter to frontbenchers after days of contradictory signals about whether he wants to restore freedom of movement or even rejoin the bloc. At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Burnham insisted there was "no confusion at all" over his position, telling MPs that Labour's manifesto red lines — ruling out the single market, customs union and free movement — "will stay in place firmly for the whole of this Parliament." He attacked the Conservatives' deal as a "harder Brexit than was promised at the referendum," saying it had caused a decade of low growth.

Badenoch accused Burnham of "opening his mouth without engaging his brain" over freedom of movement during the chancellor's Budget week.

Any "fundamental change" to post-Brexit arrangements would be "for the public to decide" and left to the next Parliament, Burnham's letter said.

Burnham also ruled out calling a snap general election in the next 12 months, telling reporters: "I'm not thinking about myself."

MoreEvening StandardBadenoch says ‘racist attacks’ will not work after ‘Nigerian scammer’ commentsGB NewsAndy Burnham gags Cabinet on rejoin EU plot as Labour braces for Brexit civil warBBC News - PoliticsBurnham insists 'no confusion at all' over his Brexit positionThe GuardianTory Brexit was ‘harder’ than promised in EU referendum, says Andy Burnhamwww.the-independent.comBurnham tells ministers to avoid backing specific EU options after crunch summit - www.the-independent.comHuffPost UKAndy Burnham Rules Out Holding A Snap Election In The Next 12 MonthsEvening StandardBurnham tells ministers to avoid backing specific EU options after crunch summit
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