Andy Burnham could be the country’s next prime minister within months. So, one question on everyone’s lips is what would his policies look like if he was running the country?
Many have already cited comments he made to the Labour Party conference last year when he said that he wanted to rejoin the European Union. “I hope it happens in my lifetime,” he told delegates. “I believe in the unions of all kinds. The union of the UK. The European Union, and the benefits it brought this country. Trade unions… People prosper more when they’re part of unions. That’s my belief, and I’ll say it clearly.”
However, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, is understood to have told supportive MPs in the Red Wall that he is not going to be “going big on Europe” in his pitch to voters and the country.
Another ally said: “Of course he will want to talk about a closer relationship with Europe, but he is not going to start talking about rejoining the EU.”
It comes as Wes Streeting today announced his intention to stand in a leadership contest if one is triggered, as he described Brexit as a “catastrophic mistake” and proposed Britain should rejoin the EU.
