Andy Burnham is the only declared candidate for the Labour leadership, but little is known about his plans. The former Cabinet minister and Manchester mayor, dubbed the ‘King of the North’, has yet to outline a clear vision for the country.
His past may offer clues. Burnham has long been a Remainer. As mayor, he tried to open up a conversation about rejoining the EU. “I believe in unions of all kinds,” he said. “The union of the UK. The EU benefited this country. Trade unions. People prosper more when they’re part of unions.”
“Andy Burnham, the only declared Labour leadership candidate, has yet to reveal his plans, despite a 55% public support for EU rejoining.”
But his new constituency, Makerfield, voted Leave by two to one. Early in the by-election, Burnham made a wise decision: not to “re-run” the old arguments. That was enough to win the day with 24,927 votes – and now he is on track to be Prime Minister.
Two days after that victory, on Saturday 20 June, the March for Rejoin descended on Westminster. The website advertised a low-powered line-up: Neil Kinnock, Layla Moran, German MEP Terry Reintke, anti-racism activist Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, and Madeleina Kay. Richard Morley, whose Rejoin EU Party got 35 votes in Makerfield, was there. Andy Burnham, who got 24,927, was not.
Polls show a stable majority of the British public, around 55%, supports the marchers’ mission. Generational change and “Bregret” have made Rejoin a possible future. But Burnham’s victory in an old Leave seat suggests he had to hold his tongue.
One reason Rejoin has been kept out of serious discourse is uncertainty about what it would look like. Michel Barnier has recently said that the former status quo ante ought to be on the table. But Burnham, the only declared candidate, remains silent on whether he would pursue that path – and his past offers no clear answer.