Fresh fears Labour is planning to hold another EU referendum after minister hints at a 'much closer relationship'

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Fresh fears that Labour plans to hold another EU referendum were sparked on Sunday night after a minister declared 'all options are on the table.' Senior party figures privately believe that Labour is gearing up for a Rejoin campaign. And on Sunday Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds did little to dispel worries of another divisive Brexit vote, as she hinted at a 'closer relationship' with the bloc. Her comments came as Rachel Reeves , in her first major intervention since being ousted from No11 in July, said that Brexit had made the UK 'poorer, weaker and less secure'.

The former chancellor added that Britain's 'future lies in the EU'. On Sunday, Government minister Ms Reynolds, who was asked if she wanted to see Britain rejoin the EU, said: 'I don't want to get ahead of the Prime Minister setting out those options, but I think all of those options are on the table. 'There are arguments for certainly a much closer relationship with the European Union that isn't as economically damaging.' Her words came after Mr Burnham last weekend suggested a referendum would be needed to revive free movement within the EU, before Downing Street later said the public might not be given a vote on the issue after all.

Andy Burnham, pictured last month, opened the door to reviving free movement with the EU without a referendum And a major UK-EU summit looms later this month, at which the Prime Minister is planning to set out a series of options for a new relationship with Brussels. They are expected to include membership of the single market and customs union, as well as fully rejoining the EU. A concerted campaign from Labour Remainers to push the PM towards rejoining appeared to be in play ahead of the summit.

Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture

The article leaves out Burnham's stated two-stage approach. The summit starts changes within the 2024 manifesto, which rules out the customs union, the single market and free movement, and anything more waits until after the next election. Without this, a reader believes rejoining is on the summit table now.

How we know

The Guardian reported“Anything more substantial would need to wait until after the next election”Rachel Reeves says UK’s future is in EU as she backs Andy Burnham on Brexit (opens in a new tab)

And in another move that has caused nervous speculation, Ms Reeves' former chief of staff Ben Nunn, who was also one of Sir Keir's most trusted aides during his time in opposition, was brought back into No10 as Mr Burnham's new EU adviser. 'It's pretty obvious why they're bringing him in,' one minister told the Mail. 'He's going to mastermind the Rejoin campaign.' It comes as it emerged ministers are prepared to spend as much as £450million a year to give EU students discounted university fees.

DAN HODGES: Why I believe a second referendum really is now on the table

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What we found (4)

The Daily Mail headlines unnamed fears of a Labour referendum plan, while its own body reports that Downing Street said the public might not get a vote. In its own voice it says, with no source, that the summit options are expected to include fully rejoining the EU, and it leaves out Burnham's stated plan to keep the summit within the manifesto. It also uses loaded words such as a 'divisive' vote nobody has announced and Reeves being 'ousted'.

Headline goes beyond the article
Minor
“Fresh fears Labour is planning to hold another EU referendum”
Why this matters
The headline says Labour is feared to be planning another EU referendum. It names no one who holds the fear, and nobody in the article says a referendum is planned.
The impression it gives
That a new EU referendum is being planned and that a minister's words point to it.
The context
The minister quoted says only that options are on the table and that she does not want to get ahead of the Prime Minister. The body reports that Downing Street said the public might not be given a vote. A caption says Burnham opened the door to change without a referendum.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“the public might not be given a vote on the issue after all”
- Elsewhere in the article“opened the door to reviving free movement with the EU without a referendum”
- Elsewhere in the article“I don't want to get ahead of the Prime Minister setting out those options”
Show it in the article
States one side's claim as fact
Minor
“They are expected to include membership of the single market and customs union, as well as fully rejoining the EU.”
Why this matters
The Mail states, with no source, that the summit options are expected to include full EU membership.
The impression it gives
That rejoining the EU will be put forward at this month's summit.
The context
The Guardian reports that Burnham's first stage, starting at the summit, stays within the 2024 manifesto. That manifesto commits to staying outside the customs union and single market. The Guardian says anything more substantial would wait until after the next election.
How we know
- The Guardian reported“Anything more substantial would need to wait until after the next election”Rachel Reeves says UK’s future is in EU as she backs Andy Burnham on Brexit (opens in a new tab)
- The Guardian reported“committed to remaining outside the EU’s customs union and single market, and not reinstating freedom of movement”Rachel Reeves says UK’s future is in EU as she backs Andy Burnham on Brexit (opens in a new tab)
Show it in the article
Uses a loaded word
Minor
“did little to dispel worries of another divisive Brexit vote”
Why this matters
The Mail calls a vote nobody has announced 'divisive' and says the minister failed to 'dispel worries', in its own voice.
The impression it gives
That a divisive vote is coming and the minister ducked the issue.
The context
The minister's quoted words mention no vote at all. She speaks of options and a closer relationship.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“a much closer relationship with the European Union”
Show it in the article
“ousted from No11”
Why this matters
The Mail says Reeves was 'ousted' from the Treasury.
The impression it gives
That Reeves was forced out in disgrace.
The context
The Guardian describes her as leaving the Treasury when Andy Burnham took office.
How we know
- The Guardian reported“since leaving the Treasury when Andy Burnham took office”Rachel Reeves says UK’s future is in EU as she backs Andy Burnham on Brexit (opens in a new tab)
Show it in the article
Leaves out what changes the picture
Minor
What is missing
The article leaves out Burnham's stated two-stage approach. The summit starts changes within the 2024 manifesto, which rules out the customs union, the single market and free movement, and anything more waits until after the next election. Without this, a reader believes rejoining is on the summit table now.
How we know
- The Guardian reported“Anything more substantial would need to wait until after the next election”Rachel Reeves says UK’s future is in EU as she backs Andy Burnham on Brexit (opens in a new tab)
Show where it belongs

How other outlets reported it

The GuardianRachel Reeves says UK’s future is in EU as she backs Andy Burnham on Brexit (opens in a new tab)

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Fresh fears Labour is planning to hold another EU referendum after minister hints at a 'much closer relationship'

Headline goes beyond the article

States one side's claim as fact

Uses a loaded word

Leaves out what changes the picture

How other outlets reported it

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