Sir Keir Starmer has raised the prospect of the UK rejoining the EU âyears down the lineâ, in what has been seen as a threat to undermine Andy Burnhamâs stance on Brexit.
The prime minister and Downing Street have been accused by allies of the Greater Manchester mayor of sabotaging his campaign, after they refused to rule out the prospect of a Labour pledge to rejoin the union.
Mr Burnham has attempted to distance himself from his previous Remain stance and his desire to reverse the 2016 referendum, given that he is standing in the Makerfield by-election, a constituency that voted Leave.
It was also revealed in The Independent that Labour MPs have been told by allies of Sir Keir that Mr Burnham could bring back former leader Jeremy Corbyn, who was expelled in 2024 in a row over antisemitism.
New polling of Labour members has shown that Mr Burnham would beat the prime minister in a leadership contest, despite Sir Keirâs pledge he will not âwalk awayâ and set a timetable for his departure.
Mr Burnham said that what has been offered by Labour âhas simply not been good enoughâ, as he criticised the last 40 years of British politics.
