Andy Burnham opens door to rejoining EU 'all the way' amid calls for immediate general election

Andy Burnham has opened the door to rejoining the EU "all the way" despite promising not to "re-run" Brexit arguments when he was standing to be an MP.

In a bombshell interview this morning, the Prime Minister laid out his three options to reshape the UK's relationship with Brussels forever.

"We could stay as we are. That's definitely an option, if people think this is the right place to stay," he told the BBC.

"We could look at what George Osborne has said about a customs union, we could look at what the Liberal Democrats said at their conference about the single market, or we could go all the way."

He vowed not to leave questions over the EU relationship "hanging" - and said he wanted to be clear on "where we want Britain to go in the next decade".

Rejoining the Brussels bloc would fly directly in the face of his party's 2024 election manifesto which promised to "make Brexit work".

That, and his promises yesterday to shelve the triple lock in the next Parliament, could set tongues wagging amid rising calls for an immediate general election.

The Prime Minister has so far ruled out an early poll, insisting that the country will not endure a national contest until 2029.

Reform UK's Lee Anderson, writing for GB News this morning, warned that if Mr Burnham "wants a war with pensioners" over his triple lock pledge, "he should get on with it and call an election now".

"Mr Burnham knows older voters tend to punish parties that mess with their pensions," Mr Anderson added, "so he kicks the decision past the next election and pretends it’s somehow noble."

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Andy Burnham vows to lay out care plans before voters 'at the next general election'

Andy Burnham has vowed to “be honest” about any shortfall in his plan to fund a so-called national care service.

He promised to “say where that money is coming from”, leaving the door open to tax rises.

The Prime Minister told Times Radio: “I will put a plan before the country at the next general election where we say this is our national care service, ‘this is how we will fund it’.”

Mr Burnham added that with a care service, “the NHS truly will be able to make savings, cashable savings, from a better social care system”.

He continued: “And then if there’s a shortfall, well, we’d have to be honest about that shortfall and say where that money is coming from.”

Mr Burnham denied he was “getting rid of the whole concept of the triple lock” on the state pension.

He said: “The decision on the triple lock, the adjustment – and it is an adjustment – it’s not getting rid of the whole concept of the triple lock.”

RECAP: Andy Burnham kills off snap election hopes as PM insists country must ‘look forward’

Andy Burnham ruled out calling an early general election just days ago, saying his attention was instead focused on governing the country.

Mr Burnham said he wanted to “draw a line” under the political divisions of recent years, and instead concentrate on restoring “a bit of hope” for the public.

His comments come amid speculation that some of his senior advisers have been advising a snap election as soon as next year, in light of polling suggesting Labour could still emerge as the largest party.

Winning a fresh mandate would give Mr Burnham greater freedom to pursue his own governing priorities, rather than remaining constrained by the party's 2024 manifesto.

Questioned by BBC West on whether he was considering calling an election, Mr Burnham said: “Not particularly. No, I’m not.

“And I see all the speculation and it just races ahead. And, you know, the media love to do that. No, no election any time soon."

READ THE FULL STORY ON ANDY BURNHAM'S ELECTION CLAIM HERE