Andy Burnham confirms rejoin EU dream as PM eyes up reversing Brexit pledge at next general election

Speaking to ITV this morning, Mr Burnham said: “I’m not proposing any changes in this Parliament. I’m not going to move away from the red lines that were in the Labour manifesto.

“I am respecting what I said to the voters in Makerfield, but I’m not going to say this morning, sitting here, that the deal we’ve got at the moment is good enough for Britain. I don’t think it is good enough for Britain.

“I think we can make it better and I’m going to lead a discussion about how do we make it better in a way that people can support.”

When asked about his personal view, the Prime Minister added: “I’ve said that in my lifetime, I want to see that [rejoin the EU] happen, but I’m not going to move ahead of the public.”

Recent opinion polls show Labour opening up major leads over both the Tories and Reform UK since Mr Burnham became Prime Minister.

Opinium puts Labour at 30 per cent, eight per cent ahead of Reform UK in a distant second.

Meanwhile, Ipsos found Mr Burnham commands a similar lead over the Tories in second.

Despite the suggestion now would be a good time for Mr Burnham to call a snap election, the Prime Minister said: “There is no election coming any time soon.

“People may as well put that out of their minds. Britain is starting to regain its momentum, its sense of positivity, and its direction.”

Mr Burnham will meet with leading Brussels bureaucrats on November 20 as part of his push to reset cross-Channel relations.

The EU is expected to strike deals with Britain on food and drink, youth mobility and emissions trading.

However, the Prime Minister also wants to open an “honest discussion” about the return of freedom of movement.

Despite Brussels’ rules opening the door to hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter the UK every year, Mr Burnham blasted Brexit for the small boats crisis.

He said: “The reason the small boat crisis has arisen is we can’t return people and we have people knowing we can’t.”

However, the small boats remark appears to have undermined Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Speaking at the Home Affairs Select Committee, Ms Mahmood rejected the suggestion Brexit was to blame.

Ms Mahmood, who supported Remain in the 2016 referendum, said: “I’m sure there’s lots of other debates to be had about the rights and wrongs of Brexit.

“But is Brexit responsible for the boats? I don’t think that’s true.”

Opinion polls suggest the public would currently vote to rejoin the EU.

However, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is continuing to campaign against the Prime Minister’s push for a closer relationship with Brussels.

He said: “This is a total betrayal of Brexit Britain and his Makerfield pitch.

“He is also deluded to say immigration was different when we were members of the EU. We will fight this dishonesty.”