Andy Burnham said he stands by his decision not to make Brexit a central issue during the Makerfield by-election, despite previously describing Brexit as damaging. Asked whether Leave-voting constituents had called for a review of the UK’s relationship with Brussels, he said he was not proposing an immediate, divisive referendum.

During the campaign, Burnham said Britain should respect the referendum result and avoid reopening arguments that he believed were driving people apart. He won the by-election and later became Labour leader and Prime Minister. At his party’s conference, he said he wanted to look again at Britain’s long-term relationship with Brussels.