Farage says Burnham lacks authority to reopen the Brexit debate

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has accused British Prime Minister Andy Burnham of lacking the authority to reignite the Brexit debate, insisting the public was promised no return to key elements of the pre-EU exit era.

Mr Burnham’s weekend appeal for an “honest discussion” about restoring freedom of movement has sharpened scrutiny of how far he intends to take efforts to deepen relations with Brussels — and what boundaries would still apply.

The prime minister has said he is not proposing any changes in the current UK parliament that would depart from the red lines set out in Labour’s manifesto.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Farage said: “Five months ago, Andy Burnham says … I’m not going to reopen these arguments.

“Two-and-a-half years ago, a Labour government got a massive majority in Parliament saying we will not be re-entering the single market, the customs union, or opening up a debate on the free movement of people.

“What I am saying is this: this prime minister has no mandate, and to hear that his officials are negotiating in Brussels already is really very, very poor indeed.”

Andy Burnham is meeting EU chiefs next month for talks

Mr Farage was responding to reports that UK and EU officials are already holding discussions about a possible return to free movement.

Mr Burnham is due to meet EU chiefs next month for talks with the bloc, continuing his predecessor’s drive for closer ties.

In a speech last month at the Labour Party press conference, Mr Burnham argued that Brexit had done “more harm than good” and urged the country to think again about its “long-term relationship” with the EU.

He said he would use the UK-EU summit next month to lay out what he called the “different options” and to try to forge a political consensus on the way forward.