PM Burnham calls Brexit deal insufficient, cites economic strain

Prime Minister Andy Burnham declared the current Brexit deal insufficient for Britain on Monday.

The statement came during an appearance on Good Morning Britain.

Burnham argued that the post-referendum outcome did not match the promises made to voters.

He described the result as a harder Brexit than originally proposed.

The Prime Minister linked the new borders to a weakened economy and a less effective immigration system.

He noted that the small boats crisis has grown because the UK can no longer return people to Europe as easily.

Burnham addressed questions about whether he wants to rejoin the European Union.

He said he would like to see it happen in his lifetime but would not move ahead of public opinion.

He emphasized that the British public must remain the decision-makers on this issue.

The Prime Minister rejected the idea of a major shift in policy during the current term.

He said he is not proposing to rejoin the EU in this Parliament.

Instead, he called for practical steps to improve the existing arrangement with the bloc. He stated the goal is to make the current deal work better for the UK. He also referenced the concerns of Labour MPs in leave-voting constituencies in the North and Midlands. These areas worry that reopening the debate could benefit Reform UK. Burnham acknowledged that 65 percent of his Makerfield constituents voted to leave. He said he is not rerunning the referendum, but he is taking steps to fix the current system. He supported Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s plan to make foreign workers wait 15 years for permanent residency. He called settlement a right to be earned rather than granted automatically. The Prime Minister also ruled out an early general election despite favorable polling. He told voters to put that possibility out of their minds for now. He looked ahead to the UK-EU summit scheduled for 20 November. He hopes that meeting will produce a deal that helps British food manufacturers, a sector hit hard by Brexit. He also commented on Wednesday’s budget, saying it would provide breathing space for people and businesses.