Andy Burnham faces Brexit revolt as Red Wall Labour MPs plead with PM to accept 2016 vote

However, Red Wall Labour MPs have now urged the Prime Minister against a “Brexit Hokey Cokey” and said ministers need to accept the result of the 2016 referendum.

Labour seats in the North and the Midlands voted heavily in favour of Brexit in 2016, including Ed Miliband’s Doncaster North constituency.

Boris Johnson stormed the Red Wall in 2019 after promising voters to “get Brexit done”.

But Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is now expected to make inroads.

Mr Farage claimed victory in Barnsley, Doncaster, Durham, Hartlepool, Tameside, and Sandwell in Local Elections held in 2025 and 2026.

Graham Stringer, the only Labour MP who backed Brexit in 2016, warned Mr Burnham against rejoining the EU ahead of the party’s conference in Liverpool last month.

He told The People’s Channel: “There’s no evidence that we would improve it now, and there would actually be a cost.

“What Labour’s priorities should involve is looking at the fundamentals of the economy now.”

However, Labour MPs who previously backed the 2016 Remain campaign have now publicly put pressure on the Prime Minister not to drag the UK back into the Brussels bloc.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash said: “We cannot keep holding referendums every few years, playing a sort of Brexit Hokey Cokey.

“The British people made their decision. That question is settled, and it’s time to move forward.

“We should focus on building a stronger future as partners with the EU and countries across the globe, working together in our mutual interests.

“And let’s be honest: we need a better deal than the botched Boris Johnson agreement.
“Rather than reopening old arguments, we should concentrate on securing a better relationship that delivers growth, jobs and opportunities for Britain.”

North Northumberland MP David Smith added: “As someone who voted Remain and campaigned for it in the North East, I believe we have to accept that the democratic decision of the country in the Brexit referendum was a generational one.”

The comments came after Great Grimsby MP Melanie Onn dismissed calls for a second referendum, with frontbenchers Jonathan Reynolds and Lisa Nandy also urging the Prime Minister against reigniting the debate.

However, a number of anti-Brexit Labour MPs have also been urging Mr Burnham to reignite the row over EU membership.

Dame Emily Thornberry, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, suggested the Prime Minister could rejoin the EU without holding a referendum.

She said: “I don’t think we need to have another referendum, but what we can do is have it in the manifesto, and then people can have a choice.

“I would say let’s not bother with another referendum. Let’s just have it as a General Election.”

Labour’s Brexit civil war was ignited in Liverpool when Mr Burnham confirmed rejoining the EU remained an option.

Following his first conference speech as Labour leader, the Prime Minister told GB News: “We look at all options. The speech was about deciding the long-term direction for this country. Where do we want to be in 10 years’ time?

“And I don’t think we now can leave that question unanswered. An option is to stay as we are. Of course, that’s an option.”