We had an ‘honest discussion’ about the EU, Andy… it was called a referendum – why does PM want to reopen toxic debate?

1 comment 1 Next IT’S taken 100 days in Downing Street for Andy Burnham to reveal his big plan to fix broken Britain . . . and it’s more immigration. As if we haven’t already got enough — legal and illegal — he has paved the way for a return to EU free movement . 6 We had an ‘honest discussion’ about the EU, Andy… it was called a referendum – why does PM want to reopen toxic debate? 6 It’s taken 100 days in Downing Street for Andy Burnham to reveal his big plan to fix broken Britain . . . and it’s more immigration Credit: AFP Advertisement That would give anyone from all 27 member states the right to live and work in the UK again — one of the main reasons we left in the first place. Burnham strolled into No10 promising a new era of grounded, practical leadership that would bring the country together. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. But listening to his latest outpouring, one wonders if he has taken leave of his Northern common sense since he crossed the Watford Gap. The PM only has to look past the end of his eyelashes to know that far from uniting the nation, unpicking Brexit would simply create further division. Read More on Opinion ROBERT JENRICK Britain is broke - but here's how Reform would save families £1,300 a year JANE ATKINSON Thomas Markle not attending Meghan's wedding is now the best outcome for her Why would anyone in their right mind want to reopen the toxic debate which paralysed the work of UK government for nearly four years? After finally landing the job he hankered after for so long, does Burnham really want to get bogged down in an issue which saw off at least four prime ministers? Immigration was one of the key issues which persuaded voters to “take back control” in 2016. Opening the floodgates to the whole of Europe again would betray the biggest democratic vote in British history — and a solemn pledge he made to voters at the Makerfield by-election just four months ago. Advertisement Most read in The Sun 'QUIT UK' Villagers to hold referendum to leave UK over plan to move refugees into RAF base CLAMP CLIMBDOWN Reforms for migrants seeking permanent residence face being watered down GREEN RAP Greens branded 'racist' by major Jewish organisation after passing Zionism motion Burnham assured his constituents, two thirds of whom voted to leave the EU , that nobody wants a re-run of the referendum and we should put those arguments behind us. Now he says he wants an “honest discussion” about restoring free movement. He loves an honest discussion, does our Andy. The only problem is that it’s rarely honest and anyone who disagrees is sidelined from the chat. Besides, we’ve already had an honest discussion. It was called a referendum. The discussion went on for rather a long time afterwards too, and we’re all heartily sick of it. In familiar Lancs style, the PM tags his statement with a question, as if inviting the listener to nod in agreement. Advertisement He says: “There’s an opportunity, isn’t there? The balance of migration has changed, hasn’t it?” No, it hasn’t. It is still far too high. And it’s getting worse without opening the floodgates to a fresh wave of migrants from Eastern Europe. Where are the jobs coming from? We already have nine million working-age people who are economically inactive, including nearly a million under-25s who are not in work, education or training. 6 If the financial markets detect even a whiff of ­political instability from Downing Street, it could derail John Healey’s desperate attempts to project an air of economic steadiness Credit: Getty 6 Our Armed Forces are dangerously depleted, and the Governments is urging us to stockpile tinned food and water and warning we must be ready for war in three years Credit: Getty Advertisement And where are we going to house them all? We already need to build 370,000 new homes a year just to stand still. Not to mention relieving the buckling pressure on our schools , hospitals and public transport infrastructure. But don’t worry, because thanks to Burnham’s grand vision, when you are crammed like sardines on a delayed, overcrowded train, you will at least be able to stand there in total, miserable silence ­without having to endure anyone else’s loud music. While mass immigration ­continues, Europe HAS changed. Does our bleeding heart socialist leader really want to join a bloc which is moving to the radical Right? In one breath, he tells us that Brexit has damaged economic growth and made trade much harder. Advertisement In the next, he boasts that under Labour, ­Britain has the fastest-growing European ­economy in the G7. So which is it? Burnham loyalist and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner tied herself in knots yesterday trying to insist her boss had not changed his tune and reopened the Brexit debate. Eurocrats must be falling off their gravy train laughing at the thought of Brits tearing each other apart over Brexit. Once again, our talkative PM has opened his mouth before engaging his brain — and risks undermining his own Chancellor ahead of Wednesday’s Budget . If the financial markets detect even a whiff of ­political instability from Downing Street , it could derail John Healey’s desperate attempts to project an air of economic steadiness. Advertisement Britain has massive, deep-rooted issues to tackle — a ticking time-bomb of youth unemployment , uncontrolled mass migration and a bloated benefits bill . Our Armed Forces are dangerously depleted, with Defence Secretary Wes Streeting urging us to stockpile tinned food and water and warning we must be ready for war in three years. 6 Britain has massive, deep-rooted issues to tackle — a ticking time-bomb of youth unemployment, uncontrolled mass migration and a bloated benefits bill Credit: Alamy 6 Rayner rattled off a string of Labour spending commitments but couldn’t identify a single thing Burnham has done to cut the national debt since he became PM Credit: Getty But the Chancellor is unlikely to stump up any fresh cash to rearm because the country is £3TRILLION in debt . Advertisement On the BBC yesterday, ­Rayner rattled off a string of Labour spending commitments but couldn’t identify a single thing Burnham has done to cut the national debt since he became PM. Yet instead of tackling these real-world problems, the PM wants to drag us back to the European departure lounge. We don’t need a rerun of the toxic EU psychodrama. We need leadership. Labour was elected to fix broken Britain, not to hand our sovereignty back to ­Brussels on a silver platter. Advertisement Trying to unpick Brexit when you promised you wouldn’t is not an “honest discussion”. It’s duplicitous politics. WE’VE all been told to stockpile tinned food, bottled water and medical supplies to save ourselves from a future national disaster. But let’s be honest, if the grid goes down our elite politicians won’t be getting by on baked beans. I suspect Housing Secretary Angela Rayner was only half-joking when she said bottles of sauvignon blanc would be part of her survival kit. Advertisement It made me wonder what would make up the emergency cupboard of other MPs. Andy Burnham would inevitably be keeping plenty of pork scratchings, a bus timetable, mascara and, of course, Everton mints. He might even add a pair of flip-flops in case he needs to make another U-turn. Former PM Liz Truss is sure to keep an iceberg lettuce. Well, it outlasted her 49 days in power so it might just see her through an unforeseen crisis. Advertisement A bungee rope, a yellow inflatable slide and a paddle board would be tucked away in Ed Davey’s cupboard. The Lib Dem leader would also stockpile bottled water – not to drink but to fill up the paddling pool for his next stunt. Nigel Farage will no doubt stock up on beer and fags but he might be advised to change his crypto millions into hard cash. Eco-zealot Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband would squirrel away a solar charger for his radio and a bubble-wrapped bacon sandwich, kept in a secure temperature-controlled vault, with strict instructions not to eat it in front of photographers. RECOMMENDED STORIES And Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will probably ignore the advice and tough it out with an empty cupboard. Advertisement After all, she once declared: “Lunch is for wimps.” 1 comment 1