Burnham: Current Brexit Deal Fails British Economy

Prime Minister Andy Burnham declared on Monday that the current Brexit deal is not good enough for Britain. He stated that the arrangement has failed to deliver the results promised during the referendum campaign. The admission came as he faced questions about the economic impact of leaving the European Union and the ongoing small boats crisis.

Burnham described the current situation as a harder Brexit than originally proposed. He argued that this shift has weakened the national economy. The Prime Minister specifically noted that British food manufacturers have been hit hard by the changes. He hopes an upcoming UK-EU summit on 20 November will produce a deal that benefits these industries.

The leader emphasized that Brexit has complicated border control. He explained that the UK can no longer easily send people back to Europe, a factor he believes fuels the small boats crisis. Burnham backed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s plan to require foreign workers to wait 15 years for permanent residency. He described settlement as a right to be earned rather than an automatic grant.

When asked if he wanted Britain to rejoin the EU, Burnham said he would like to see it happen in his lifetime. However, he refused to move ahead of public opinion. He stated that the British public must remain the bosses in this process. He clarified that he is not proposing to rejoin the EU during the current parliament but wants practical steps to make the arrangement work better.

The Prime Minister addressed the 65% Leave vote in his Makerfield constituency. He confirmed that he would not rerun the referendum. He said the people of Makerfield would decide what happens next. He positioned his comments as a way to take practical steps to improve the current deal without reopening the debate entirely.

Burnham also dismissed the idea of an early general election. He told voters to put that idea out of their minds. He described the upcoming Wednesday budget as offering breathing space for people and businesses. He claimed the budget would provide a little light at the end of the tunnel for the country.