Andy Burnham hit with 'Brexit chaos' as aide rows back on PM's EU comments

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Andy Burnham hit with 'Brexit chaos' as aide rows back on PM's EU comments Reform's Nigel Farage branded the comments a 'betrayal'. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments By Sarah Barltrop 07:01, Tue, Oct 27, 2026 Updated: 07:05, Tue, Oct 27, 2026 Nigel Farage slams Andy Burnham over Brexit betrayal Andy Burnham has sent his office into chaos after hinting at a return to freedom of movement , with his aide forced to settle the media storm.

The PM angered Brexiteers after suggesting a public vote on free movement, before his team insisted he was "not leaning either way". It followed an eye-opening interview with The Sunday Times at the weekend, when the PM said he wanted a "very factual, quite evidence-based debate" on free movement. A rattled Nigel Farage , who has always backed Brexit , declared it a "total betrayal" of the 17.4million Brits who voted to leave. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT The following morning, Mr Bunham said he wanted to start an "honest conversation" about the benefits of reintroducing freedom of movement as part of a new deal with the EU, during TV interviews.

He added: "I don't think things have worked out as they said they would at the time, particularly when it comes to immigration." But he insisted Britain would only have free movement following a referendum, vowing to "never move ahead of the British public when it comes to Brexit". By lunchtime, his press team were desperately trying to quell the furore, stating the PM was not set on rejoining the free market. However, a vote was not ruled out, with the statement that it was for the "British public to decide".

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Wetherspoon breaks silence over poppy ban fury after veteran turned away Binman warns UK households to never put 6 items in recycling bins – 'won't be collected' Andy Burnham hit with 'Brexit chaos' following comments (Image: Getty) A No 10 spokeswoman said: "So, the Prime Minister isn't proposing a return to freedom of movement, or any option. He is saying that it's time for us to discuss what kind of long-term relationship with Europe is best for Britain, and he is referring to the types of areas that that agreement and long-term future could cover."

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT She added: "He is crucially not leaning either way, and that will be for the British public to decide." At the Labour conference in September, Mr Burnham pledged to explore closer ties with the bloc . In a follow-up interview with the BBC, the Prime Minister said options could include staying "exactly as we are", a closer relationship with the EU, or rejoining the EU customs union. He is reportedly considering either full EU membership or joining the single market, which would mean accepting free movement.

The PM said an in-out referendum may feature in future Labour manifestos, while ruling out any immediate action. The intervention marks the second time this month that Downing Street has had to clarify the PM's remarks on Brexit, after he suggested the 2016 referendum result was influenced by disinformation spread by the Kremlin. Get the latest politics news - straight from our team in Westminster and more I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family .

Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . Brexit News European Union Andy Burnham Labour Party Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments

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What we found (3)

The Daily Express puts 'Brexit chaos' in quotation marks in its headline, though nobody in the article says those words. In its own voice it calls a routine No 10 clarification 'chaos' and a 'desperate' effort, while its own quotes show the PM and his spokeswoman both saying any change would be for the public to decide. It also misreports the spokeswoman's statement as being about 'the free market'.

Headline goes beyond the article
Serious
“'Brexit chaos'”
Why this matters
The headline puts 'Brexit chaos' in quotation marks, as if someone said it about Andy Burnham.
The impression it gives
A reader thinks a named critic or source described the situation as 'Brexit chaos'.
The context
No one quoted in the article uses the phrase. Farage's quoted word is 'total betrayal', and the No 10 spokeswoman says the PM is 'not leaning either way'. The phrase is the Express's own verdict dressed as a quote, and it reappears unattributed in a picture caption.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“declared it a "total betrayal" of the 17.4million Brits”
- Elsewhere in the article“He is crucially not leaning either way”
Show it in the article
Written straight
No 10 clarifies Andy Burnham's comments on EU free movement after Nigel Farage calls them a 'betrayal'.
Uses a loaded word
Minor
“has sent his office into chaos”
Why this matters
The Express states in its own voice that the PM's remarks threw his office into 'chaos'.
The impression it gives
A reader thinks Downing Street was in disarray.
The context
The article's only evidence is a spokeswoman's statement that matches what the PM himself said: that free movement would only come after a referendum and is for the public to decide.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“Britain would only have free movement following a referendum”
- Elsewhere in the article“that will be for the British public to decide”
Show it in the article
“were desperately trying to quell the furore”
Why this matters
The words 'desperately' and 'furore' turn a press statement into a panicked scramble.
The impression it gives
A reader thinks No 10 was frantically backtracking.
The context
The article gives no fact showing desperation. It reports one calm statement from a spokeswoman, which repeated the PM's own position.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“it's time for us to discuss what kind of long-term relationship”
Show it in the article
“A rattled Nigel Farage”
Why this matters
The Express calls Farage 'rattled' in its own voice.
The impression it gives
A reader takes it as fact that Farage was shaken by the remarks.
The context
The article quotes only Farage's condemnation and gives nothing that shows his state of mind. The word is the outlet's own colour.
Show it in the article
Misreports the statement
Minor
“stating the PM was not set on rejoining the free market”
Why this matters
The Express says the press team stated the PM was not set on 'rejoining the free market'.
The impression it gives
A reader thinks No 10's statement was about rejoining a market.
The context
The spokeswoman's quoted statement is about freedom of movement, not a market. The article's paraphrase does not match its own quote.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“the Prime Minister isn't proposing a return to freedom of movement”
Show it in the article

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Andy Burnham hit with 'Brexit chaos' as aide rows back on PM's EU comments

Headline goes beyond the article

Uses a loaded word

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