Chancellor Healey clashes with Andy Burnham again, saying he does not expect Britain to rejoin the EU in his lifetime
Andy Burnham with his wife, Marie-France van Heel, at a Diwali celebration at 10 Downing Street, as Chancellor John Healey deepened a cabinet split by saying he does not expect Britain to rejoin the EU in his lifetime.Melanie Onn, the Labour MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, warned that any free-movement commitment would "presumably have to go into a Labour manifesto" — a direct challenge to Burnham's authority from an elected…
Chancellor John Healey broke publicly with Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Friday, telling Channel 4 News he does not expect Britain to rejoin the EU in his lifetime — and pointing out that he is a decade older than Burnham. Healey said his focus is on securing the strongest possible deal at the Brussels summit on 20 November, with food and drink, emissions trading, and a youth mobility scheme among the issues under negotiation.
Burnham has already gone on record saying he wants Britain back in the EU 'in his lifetime', and suggested the next Labour manifesto might put the question to voters in an in-out referendum.
A Labour MP warned Burnham 'not to rip the whole country apart', while his own constituency of Makerfield — which voted 65% to Leave — has reportedly threatened a 'revolt'.
Burnham has imposed Cabinet collective responsibility, ordering ministers not to publicly advocate for specific options or face resignation.
