Prime Minister Andy Burnham criticized the legacy of Brexit, stating that the UK’s exit from the EU «ushered in a decade of low growth», the effects of which the country is still feeling. He made the remarks during his first statement in the House of Commons.
In an unexpected critique of the consequences of leaving the EU, Andy Burnham called Brexit one of a series of «wrong decisions» the UK had made since the 1980s. He said Brexit had exacerbated problems linked to excessive centralization of political power, privatization of the economy, and the deindustrialization of the country.
Andy Burnham also recalled that just a year ago, while serving as Mayor of Manchester, he had advocated for the UK to rejoin the EU.
New government priorities and shift in political course
The statement outlined the vision of Andy Burnham’s government after he replaced Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister in July following a bloodless intra-party coup.
At the same time, Andy Burnham said he would adhere to the «red lines» on Brexit set by Sir Keir — no return to the EU, the single market, or the customs union. However, his current remarks may fuel expectations that he will attempt to change this course before the next election.
Among other key priorities, Andy Burnham paid tribute to Sir Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation as an MP after being ousted from Downing Street.
He also confirmed the UK’s support for Ukraine and praised his predecessors from the Conservative and Labour parties for their leadership in standing up to Vladimir Putin.
The prime minister also insisted on continuing the net zero policy amid the climate crisis, which he linked to the tragedy of large-scale flooding in Nepal. At the same time, he dodged questions from Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch about defense spending, taxes, and cuts to social benefits.
Andy Burnham also hinted at possible electoral reform after Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for a national commission to reform the political system.
Burnham’s statement marked a noticeable shift in tone compared to Sir Keir Starmer’s two years in office. The new prime minister emphasized that he wanted to move away from political «point-scoring» and focus on cooperation with other parties to solve problems.
He said: «Britain is not where any of us would want it to be. Things are not as they should be. Life is too expensive and too hard for too many. That is why the first steps of this government have been to give businesses and people a little breathing space.»
Criticism of Brexit and possible rapprochement with the EU
Speaking about a series of wrong decisions that he believes have led to a decline in living standards in the UK, Andy Burnham singled out Brexit for criticism.
He told MPs: «Since the 1980s, this country has made a series of wrong decisions. Political power was centralized, the economy was privatized. The country was deindustrialized. Then came austerity, which weakened local councils and stripped them of the ability to change things, and then Brexit, which deepened the damage done, ushering in a decade of low growth and stagnation in the recovery of the regions.»
These remarks were welcomed by EU supporters. They came just days after The Independent reported that UK businesses were losing £11.7 billion annually in exports due to Brexit. A separate poll showed that 98.2% of businesses support the UK rejoining the EU single market.
Andy Burnham is already taking steps toward decentralization, promoting a new program to devolve powers to elected mayors. He has also pledged to return certain industries to public ownership, hinting that water supply companies could be among the first targets.
EU supporters hope he will take a similar approach to Brexit.
Naomi Smith, CEO of Best for Britain, said: «It is very welcome to hear the prime minister at the dispatch box speaking loudly and clearly that Brexit has damaged Britain; rather than taking back control, it has shrunk our economy, made us poorer, weaker, less secure, and more divided.»
She said that if Andy Burnham is serious about changing course, he must keep all options open, including the possibility of rejoining the EU, which she estimated could deliver an economic boost to the UK of at least £92 billion.
Criticism from Conservatives
However, Andy Burnham’s remarks were ridiculed by Kemi Badenoch. She chastised the new prime minister for not being available for parliamentary scrutiny during his first 43 days in office.
She said: «It is 2026. Yet the prime minister in his statement said everything went wrong from the 1980s, still blaming Margaret Thatcher. I may not look my age, but I am 46. He is talking about a woman who became prime minister before I was born. He is living in the past and wants to take us back to the 1970s. We Conservatives are about the future, not the past.»
Andy Burnham’s statement, in which he called Brexit a «wrong decision», will fuel expectations that his promise last week to adhere to Sir Keir Starmer’s «red lines» may be revisited before the next election.
Former Prime Minister Sir John Major told The Independent in an interview that the top priority for any prime minister should be to return the UK to the EU single market as a step toward full reentry into the European Union and overcoming the economic decline caused by Brexit.
Mike Galsworthy, chair of European Movement UK, told The Independent that the biggest opportunity for Andy Burnham lies not so much in how he handles the constraints set by Starmer in Labour’s previous manifesto, but in the bigger step he could take in the next manifesto.
According to him, the main goal could be a pledge in the next manifesto to begin negotiations for the UK’s full reentry into the EU.
Source: The Independent UK
