'Who wants free movement?': Kemi Badenoch dares Labour MPs to back Burnham at PMQs and NOBODY raises a hand

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.

At PMQs on Wednesday, Kemi Badenoch asked Labour MPs to raise their hands if they supported EU free movement — and not one backbencher did, leaving Andy Burnham visibly isolated at the despatch box. Badenoch cited Burnham's own words from the Makerfield by-election, in which he pledged the UK should not "rerun those arguments", and asked whether he still stood by them. Burnham maintained that his position was "entirely consistent" and that manifesto red lines on freedom of movement "will stay in place firmly for the whole of this Parliament."

Burnham told his cabinet on Wednesday that ministers must not publicly back any specific EU option ahead of next month's Brussels summit.

Badenoch noted that even Burnham's own Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Business Secretary oppose reopening the free movement debate.

Burnham hit back by reminding Badenoch she once admitted it was a 'mistake' for the Conservatives to leave the EU before having a growth plan.

The GuardianTory Brexit was ‘harder’ than promised in EU referendum, says Andy Burnham The TelegraphBurnham: Britain didn’t vote for hard Brexit BBC News - PoliticsBurnham insists 'no confusion at all' over his Brexit position LBC'No confusion at all' on Government's stance on Brexit, Burnham insists at PMQs GB News'Who wants free movement?!' Kemi Badenoch dares Labour MPs to back Andy Burnham's Brexit U-turn in heated PMQs exchange HuffPost UKAndy Burnham Rules Out Holding A Snap Election In The Next 12 Months Evening StandardBurnham tells ministers to avoid backing specific EU options after crunch summit HuffPost UK'Have A Little Humility': Andy Burnham Torches Kemi Badenoch Over Brexit Deal

Read today's full feed at The Newshound →