The Daily Mail editorial criticises Andy Burnham’s reported support for transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and his comments about potentially rejoining the European Union. It argues that the Prime Minister should accept the Brexit result, focus on using post-EU freedoms and avoid suggesting the 2016 referendum was distorted by outside influences.

The article also raises concerns about the Government’s finances ahead of the Budget, citing £18.3 billion borrowed by the public sector in August, around a fifth more than the previous year. It says income-tax receipts of £331 billion were lower than welfare spending of £333 billion, and argues that Labour is not doing enough to reduce benefit costs, potentially leaving working people facing further tax rises.