Burnham says Brexit deal falls short of promises

Prime Minister Andy Burnham told viewers on Good Morning Britain that the current Brexit deal is not good enough for Britain. Speaking on Monday, he argued that the process has not played out as promised during the referendum campaign and has left the country with a harder exit than originally proposed.

Burnham stated that the economic impact has been negative and that the arrangement has weakened the UK’s ability to control its borders. He pointed to the rising number of small boats crossing the Channel as evidence that immigration control has become more difficult rather than easier.

When asked directly if he wanted Britain to rejoin the European Union, Burnham said he would like to see it happen in his lifetime. However, he clarified that he is not moving ahead of the public opinion. He emphasized that the British public must remain the bosses of the decision.

He explained that raising the possibility of closer relations with the EU stems from the belief that Brexit has not delivered on its key promises. Burnham noted that the small boats crisis has risen since the departure, creating a different form of immigration pressure than existed before.

The Prime Minister said he is not proposing to rejoin the EU in the current parliament. He described the timeline as being way away and said the focus should be on taking practical steps to make the current arrangements work better. He added that he would not move away from the red lines set in Labour’s manifesto.

Burnham acknowledged the concern that 65% of his constituents in Makerfield voted to leave. He said he is not rerunning the referendum but is making practical steps to improve the situation. He noted that the people of Makerfield will decide what happens next regarding Brexit.

He backed the Home Secretary’s plan to require foreign workers to wait 15 years for permanent residency. Burnham supported the principle that settlement is a right to be earned rather than granted automatically. He also ruled out an early general election despite recent polling, telling people to put that idea out of their minds.