Louise Haigh refuses to rule out rejoining the European Union under Andy Burnham: 'Brexit hasn't worked'

Louise Haigh has refused to rule out Britain rejoining the European Union under Andy Burnham's Government.

Speaking to GB News, the First Secretary of State argued that Brexit has "not worked" for the UK economy or for British businesses.

In his Labour Party Conference speech earlier today, the Prime Minister blamed the country's exit from the bloc 10 years ago for the decline of the country.

He told the crowd: "I will say it straight. Britain has been on the wrong path for a very long time: deindustrialisation, deregulation, privatisation, austerity, Brexit.

"And what has it given us? A country run for vested interests, not in the public interest, with power held in to few hands and too many places left to drift.

"I am ready to do things my predecessors wouldn’t. I will make a break with the direction of the last 40 years (and) put Britain on a new path. I will build a new country and a new economy."

Addressing Mr Burnham's remarks, the convicted fraudster was quizzed by GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope on whether one of the PM's solutions for the country is to rejoin the EU.

She responded: "Well, the Prime Minister is going to set that out later in the year around the UK-EU Summit.

"But he's been clear today that Brexit has had consequences, that it hasn't worked for our economy and for British people or British businesses."

The Labour Minister explained Minister for Intergovernmental and European Relations, Hamish Falconer, will be "leading negotiations" with the Union on how they reset their relations.

She said: "We've got the UK-EU summit later this year, where Hamish Faulkner will be leading the negotiations for the Government.

"And top of the list will be getting that food deal, which has driven up prices both for businesses and customers in this country and has put a border down the down the Irish Sea.

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"It really risked our relationship with Northern Ireland, so tackling that and getting that deal in, that agreement will be really important."

Challenged on whether she personally would like to see the UK rejoin the EU, Ms Haigh was quick to dismiss the line of questioning.

She responded: "I'm going to leave that to the Prime Minister to set out later in the year."

Cutting back to host Martin Daubney in the studio, he declared he and his panellists had their "jaws on the table" at Ms Haigh's refusal to rule out an EU return.

Martin to Christopher: "I'll tell you what, our jaws are on the table here in Westminster because Louise Haigh, the de facto second person in control of the Labour Party.

"Can you please ask the question again? She refused to rule out the Labour Party rejoining the European Union, she didn't rule it out?"

Ms Haigh was then asked a third time whether Andy Burnham would rejoin the European Union while he is Prime Minister.

She made clear: "The Prime Minister has been very clear that he will be setting out the position for the long term relationship with Europe, our greatest trading partner, later in the year."