Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham is encountering resistance from MPs representing traditional Labour strongholds in the North and Midlands regarding his proposed efforts to renegotiate the UK's relationship with the European Union. The plan, which includes reopening discussions about Brexit and potentially reestablishing closer ties with Brussels, has sparked tension within the party, particularly among those who represent constituencies that voted to leave the EU.
Several Labour MPs from these "Red Wall" areas have expressed caution, warning against revisiting the divisive issue. Jonathan Hinder, MP for Pendle and Clitheroe, cautioned that reopening the Brexit debate risks alienating Leave voters by effectively telling them their previous choice was wrong. Similarly, Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash dismissed proposals to rejoin the EU without a second referendum as a “non-starter," citing the social and political damage caused by the 2016 referendum vote.
Other voices within the party emphasize the unpopularity of free movement, which many attribute as a primary factor in the original decision to leave the EU. An unnamed Labour MP from a Red Wall constituency highlighted that free movement was central to the Leave vote in their area and questioned the rationale behind rekindling a debate that remains controversial among their constituents.
Andy Haldane, former chief economist at the Bank of England and adviser to Burnham, acknowledged that while striking a better deal with the EU could yield economic benefits over the long term, reopening the Brexit question risks creating uncertainty. He warned that renewed political conflict could unsettle businesses at a time when stability is crucial.
Despite the pushback, Mr. Burnham affirmed his commitment to pursuing a new deal with the EU during a Commons session on Monday. He argued that maintaining the current arrangements is insufficient for Britain’s economic prospects and suggested closer relations could enhance growth. However, he declined to categorically rule out a future return to free movement, responding to related questions five times without a definitive answer.
The Prime Minister’s approach appears partly motivated by a desire to reclaim Labour voters who have shifted allegiance to the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party, both of which have expressed pro-EU stances. Labour Chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Dame Emily Thornberry defended the debate, asserting that attempts to quell discussion around Brexit should be dismissed. She pointed to polling indicating that a majority consider Brexit a mistake, saying, “Why shouldn’t we talk about this when the majority of people agree Brexit was a disaster and we ought to get back into the EU?”
The internal party disagreement highlights ongoing divisions over Brexit within Labour, reflecting the challenge the leadership faces in balancing its traditional voter base’s concerns with calls for a renewed engagement with the EU.