The next general election is shaping up to be dominated by Andy Burnham’s desire to re-enter the EU. But in doing so the prime minister has scratched at scars that have never healed. Should he succeed, he faces what may prove to be a tortuous process.
The battle has already begun, with the Tories and Reform UK immediately denouncing his “betrayal” of the referendum result. Time and public opinion have not stood still since then, and Burnham is confident that the majority of the electorate is today in favour of rejoining the bloc or, at the very least, developing closer ties. This brings us to the first of the questions Burnham must address.
