Andy Burnham is planning to introduce a new approach to Brexit. He is expected to stress the necessity of getting closer to the European Union in his annual speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Internal Challenges for the Labour Party
Burnham must balance between party members who want a review of Brexit and those who are inclined to compromise on it. In the hours leading up to his speech, cabinet members had differing opinions on this matter.
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Lucy Powell, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, stated on the sidelines of the conference that going beyond the European Union's plans inherited from Keir Starmer is neither possible nor desirable. She added, "I think there are ways to improve communications on defense and security, but beyond that, I can't speculate."
Conflicting Opinions within the Labour Party
While Jonathan Reynolds, Minister of Trade and Business, expressed concerns about fundamental questions related to the UK-EU relationship, Edward Miliband, Foreign Secretary, emphasized the need for a deeper partnership with the European Union. He said, "Europe is not just geography; it is much more than that."
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, also believes that the UK's return to the European Union is inevitable and that Burnham must prepare the British people for this reality.
Additionally, Hamish Falconer, the new Minister for EU Relations, announced that Burnham wants to act "more and faster" than his predecessors in this regard. He emphasized that the public will hear "a few words" from the Prime Minister about the European Union.
Political and Economic Strategies
These differences are part of a disagreement over political strategy. Some party members believe that a review of Brexit could help win back those who have joined the Green Party and Liberal Democrats. Meanwhile, others argue that this could be detrimental to voters who are tired of repetitive discussions.
Even if Burnham promises on Tuesday to get closer to Europe, achieving that may be easier said than done. Current negotiations regarding agricultural and trade agreements are progressing slowly, and Burnham has yet to set a new date for a meeting that was supposed to take place in July.
