Labour MP warns Andy Burnham 'not to rip the whole country apart' over his push to revive EU free movement
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…
Labour MP Melanie Onn, who represents the 69 per cent-Leave seat of Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, broke cover to demand a full party debate before any retreat on Labour's 2024 manifesto triple lock against rejoining the single market, customs union or signing up to free movement. Burnham also admitted this morning he would have liked his first budget to have been more radical, compounding a bruising week.
Chancellor John Healey deepened the cabinet split, telling broadcasters 'we had a referendum' and that he does not expect Britain to rejoin the EU in his lifetime.
Burnham's own Makerfield constituency activists warned he 'could have a revolt' if he presses ahead with what they branded a Brexit U-turn.
Onn, an elected member of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, said any free-movement commitment 'would presumably have to go into a Labour manifesto' — a direct challenge to Burnham's authority.
