Should Labour abandon their EU manifesto promises?

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Should Labour abandon their EU manifesto promises? Have your say in our online poll on those infamous Labour manifesto pledges. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments POLL By Aaron Newbury , Political Correspondent 08:19, Tue, Nov 10, 2026 Updated: 11:51, Tue, Nov 10, 2026 Andy Burnham has long said he wants to rejoin (Image: Getty) One of the architects of Labour’s Brexit red lines has called for Andy Burnham to tear them up before the next General Election.

Chris Ward, who co-wrote the pledges in Labour’s 2024 manifesto, said they should be given a “well-earned and dignified retirement”. The red lines rule out rejoining the EU, the single market and the customs union, and restoring freedom of movement. Writing in The Guardian, the Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven MP admitted they were “designed precisely to close down the debate and to narrow the target” Brexit had become for Labour . Mr Ward, a former Cabinet Office minister and one of Sir Keir Starmer ’s closest allies, said they “no longer speak to the world as it is in 2026”.

He argued Britain “could no longer rely on the Americans” and called for a public debate on whether the UK should rejoin the EU or seek a form of associate membership. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT 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 . Andy Burnham humiliated as Makerfield voters deliver verdict on plot to betray Brexit Andy Burnham urged to intervene over plan to switch off UK’s landline phones in January It comes before Mr Burnham meets EU chiefs in Brussels on Friday, November 20, where the UK is set to sign agreements on food, emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme.

The Prime Minister has said he wants Britain back in the EU in his lifetime, though he told ITV he was “not proposing any changes in this Parliament”. He has also called for an “honest discussion” about free movement, before insisting he had not proposed its return. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Many Labour MPs have said it would be right for Mr Burnham to consider rejoining. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT But critics warn Leave voters are being sold down the river.

Nigel Farage , the Leader of Reform UK has warned he is ready to fight to save Brexit , branding the move a "betrayal". Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said last month a return to free movement would mean “handing back control of our borders”. A poll of voters in Mr Burnham’s Makerfield seat, for campaign group Britain Unbound, found around 80% wanted the UK alone to decide regional state aid. As few as 2% backed international bodies.

Mr Ward insisted the red lines had been the right strategy, and said the reset would show “real benefits can be delivered within those red lines”. Should Labour keep its Brexit red lines? Vote in our poll above and have your say in the comments. Se e more of the stories you love from Daily Express and find us easily in Google by making us a Preferred Source. Free and easy-to-do, just c lick here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

EU Referendum Brexit News Nigel Farage Andy Burnham Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments

Read the original article on express.co.uk

What we found (4)

The Daily Express reports Chris Ward's call to scrap Labour's Brexit red lines and quotes him, the Prime Minister and his critics with attribution. It tilts the reader with small loaded touches in its own voice: the pledges are "infamous", Ward "admitted" an explanation he offered freely, a linked headline calls the policy a "plot to betray Brexit", and a campaign group's single-seat poll on state aid is pressed into service against rejoining.

Uses a loaded word
Minor
“infamous”
Why this matters
The Express calls the manifesto pledges "infamous" in its own voice, in the line inviting readers to vote.
The impression it gives
A reader takes the pledges as notorious or discredited before reading anything about them.
The context
The article describes the red lines as a plain policy position on rejoining the EU, the single market, the customs union and free movement. Nothing in it shows them to be infamous.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“The red lines rule out rejoining the EU”
Show it in the article
Uses a loaded word
Minor
“admitted”
Why this matters
The Express says Ward "admitted" the red lines were designed to close down the debate. The word presents an openly stated strategy as a confession.
The impression it gives
A reader thinks Ward conceded something damaging or hidden about Labour's pledges.
The context
Ward set out the purpose of the red lines in his own Guardian piece and defended them as the right strategy. The Guardian's news report simply says he said it.
How we know
- The Guardian reported“He said the party had agreed upon the red lines in the manifesto because they were”Labour’s Brexit red lines ready for ‘dignified retirement’, says their co-author (opens in a new tab)
- Elsewhere in the article“Mr Ward insisted the red lines had been the right strategy”
Show it in the article
Uses a loaded word
Minor
“plot to betray Brexit”
Why this matters
Inside the body text, the Express runs a linked headline of its own that calls the Prime Minister's EU policy a "plot to betray Brexit". It does not attribute the phrase to anyone.
The impression it gives
A reader takes it as the outlet's settled description that Burnham is secretly scheming to betray the referendum result.
The context
The same article reports Burnham saying he is not proposing changes in this Parliament. Elsewhere it gives the word "betrayal" only as Nigel Farage's branding.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“not proposing any changes in this Parliament”
- Elsewhere in the article“branding the move a "betrayal"”
Show it in the article
Uses figures that mislead
Minor
“As few as 2%”
Why this matters
The Express presses "as few as 2%" from a poll of one constituency, commissioned by a campaign group, into the critics' case. The poll asked about who should decide regional state aid, not about rejoining the EU.
The impression it gives
A reader comes away thinking Makerfield voters overwhelmingly reject Burnham's EU moves.
The context
The poll covers a single seat and a narrow question on state aid, and was commissioned by Britain Unbound. It says nothing directly about rejoining, the single market or free movement.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“found around 80% wanted the UK alone to decide regional state aid”
Show it in the article

What it gets right

“though he told ITV he was “not proposing any changes in this Parliament””
It reports the Prime Minister's own caveat beside his long-term aim, so the reader is not left thinking a change is imminent.
“Mr Ward insisted the red lines had been the right strategy, and said the reset would show “real benefits can be delivered within those red lines””
It gives Ward's full position accurately, matching his Guardian piece, rather than only the call to scrap the pledges.
“Chris Ward, who co-wrote the pledges in Labour’s 2024 manifesto, said they should be given a “well-earned and dignified retirement””
It names the source of the call and quotes him directly with clear attribution.

How other outlets reported it

The GuardianLabour’s Brexit red lines ready for ‘dignified retirement’, says their co-author (opens in a new tab)

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Should Labour abandon their EU manifesto promises?

Uses a loaded word

Uses a loaded word

Uses a loaded word

Uses figures that mislead

What it gets right

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