Nigel Farage thanks Andy Burnham for gifting Reform UK leader ‘biggest boost in my career’ by reopening Pandora’s box of Brexit, telling the PM: ‘Bring it on’
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Nigel Farage says Andy Burnham’s call to reconsider Britain’s relationship with the EU has brought him back into the Brexit debate and given Reform UK a major political opportunity. Farage says his party will campaign for Britain to remain independent, framing the issue as a potential dividing line with Labour.
Burnham said Brexit had done “more harm than good” and raised options including closer ties through the single market and customs union, or rejoining the EU; he has not ruled out another referendum. Polling cited in the article found 55 per cent support rejoining in principle, falling to 35 per cent if it meant adopting the euro and joining Schengen. The Government says it is pursuing closer EU ties, with planned discussions focused on youth mobility, food trade barriers and emissions trading.
- Farage says Burnham’s EU comments give Reform a boost.
- Labour has raised options including rejoining the EU.
- Support for rejoining falls if it requires the euro and Schengen.
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Brexit refers to Britain's decision to leave the European Union, which took effect in January 2020 following a 2016 referendum. Despite the decision being implemented, the question of whether it was right remains politically contentious in the UK.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester and a senior Labour politician, has recently suggested that Britain should reconsider its relationship with the EU and explore options from closer economic ties to full rejoining. Nigel Farage, a leading figure in the original Brexit campaign, now heads Reform UK, a political party seeking seats in Parliament. He has responded by saying Burnham's remarks present his party with an opportunity to campaign for Britain to remain independent from Europe.
This matters because it demonstrates that the Brexit question remains politically active in the UK, more than six years after the original referendum. Polling indicates substantial public interest in closer EU ties or rejoining, though the level of support varies significantly depending on the specific arrangements involved.