Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, is preparing to outline his economic agenda as he seeks to regain trust within the Labour Party and secure a return to Westminster. His team indicated that he plans to use the coming week to address key issues and preempt any internal disputes that could hamper his campaign.

A central element of Burnham’s messaging is a firm stance on the European Union, which he intends to keep off the table during his bid. He reaffirmed his belief that revisiting the debate over EU membership would be unproductive, emphasizing the need for the party to focus on domestic priorities instead. “My view is Brexit has been damaging, but I also believe the last thing we should do right now is rerun those arguments,” Burnham said. His remarks come in contrast to Labour leadership contender Wes Streeting, who recently suggested the UK should pursue rejoining the EU.

Burnham warned that persistent debates over Europe risk trapping the party in a “permanent rut,” and pledged to maintain a “relentless domestic focus” throughout his campaign, particularly during upcoming by-elections. His approach aims to unify the party around economic and social issues, steering attention away from divisive topics.

Additionally, Burnham’s spokesperson confirmed that the campaign does not intend to modify Labour’s existing fiscal rules, a policy set by current leader Rachel Reeves. This includes rejecting any exceptions to borrowing and debt limits, such as those that might apply to defence spending—a position Burnham had previously been linked to reconsidering.

These moves signal an effort by Burnham to present himself as a candidate of stability and economic responsibility, appealing to voters and party members reluctant to reopen debates on Brexit or fiscal policy. The coming days are expected to clarify further details of his platform as he seeks to position himself as a unifying figure within Labour.