Andy Burnham will announce on Monday in a statement to the House of Commons that the failure to strive for closer ties with the European Union is a "mistake in fulfilling duty." He will further point out that the majority of people support a closer relationship with the European Union, provided that it helps control immigration and boost economic growth.
Reviewing UK-EU Relations
As heated discussions about Brexit are forming in the House of Commons, Burnham emphasized that it is time to start a new dialogue about the long-term relationship between the UK and its European partners. He said: "Andy understands why some politicians do not want to face the reality that Brexit has not delivered what it promised. But now is the time to talk about different options for a long-term relationship with the European Union."
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Commitment to Dialogue and Reforms
Burnham stated at last month's Labour Party annual conference that the UK's exit from the European Union has caused "more harm than good" and he intends to present various options at the upcoming UK-EU meeting scheduled for next month. He pointed out that maintaining the status quo and failing to secure a good deal that supports economic growth would be a significant mistake.
Burnham also stated in an interview with the "Rest is Politics" podcast that it is "clear" that Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum. He said: "I asked this question upon entering Downing Street: Was there interference from Russia in the 2016 referendum? And the clear answer I received was yes, there was interference."
In media interviews on Monday, Stephen Doughty, the Foreign Secretary, said that the UK government believes this interference was unsuccessful. He added: "Russia has long sought to interfere in a number of our democratic processes, but they have not succeeded in many of their attempts to undermine our processes."
Furthermore, in an interview with Sky News, Doughty stated about the security of the Brexit referendum result: "A result is a result." These remarks reflect the UK government's confidence in the stability of the referendum outcome, even amid concerns about foreign interference.
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