The Newshound

'We had a referendum': Chancellor John Healey is at odds with Andy Burnham over the PM's push to reopen Brexit

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.

Chancellor John Healey broke with Andy Burnham's Brexit push hours after delivering his maiden Budget, telling LBC he does not accept that Britain's growth would be stronger inside the EU or single market. Healey's blunt "we had a referendum, we're out" directly contradicts Burnham's argument that the Conservative deal "weakened our economy" and his suggestion that a future referendum on rejoining is possible. The split exposes a cabinet divided on Europe even as Burnham gags ministers from publicly backing any specific option.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Health Secretary Yvette Cooper are named as Eurosceptic Cabinet ministers alarmed by the PM's direction.

Burnham warned ministers that collective responsibility applies — anyone who speaks out against the Brexit review process must resign.

At PMQs, Badenoch accused Burnham of having 'opened his mouth without engaging his brain' on freedom of movement, with the attack landing in the middle of the chancellor's Budget week.

MoreThe IndependentCabinet appears split on Burnham's Brexit stance: 'We had a referendum'HuffPost UK'We Had A Referendum': Cabinet Split As Healey Appears To Disagree With Burnham Brexit StanceThe IndependentChancellor and Burnham at odds over Brexit: ‘We had a referendum’GB 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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