Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said on Monday he was not proposing that Britain consider rejoining the European Union and that he respected the decision of a referendum nearly ten years ago to leave the trading bloc.
Burnham, who has positioned himself as a leadership rival to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said: “I’m not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU. I respect the decision that was made with the referendum.”
“My view is that Brexit has been damaging, but I also believe the last thing we should do right now is re-run those arguments,” he said at an investment summit in the northern English city of Leeds.
“Britain will be stuck in a permanent rut if we’re just constantly arguing and people are pulling away from each other.”
One of Burnham’s potential rivals in any leadership contest, former health minister Wes Streeting, has forced Brexit up the agenda, saying on Saturday that Britain’s future lay with Europe and “one day” back in the European Union.
Brexit has disrupted Cyprus by introducing strict border controls and trade tariffs, causing bureaucratic hurdles for its massive British tourist and expat populations. British nationals lost their EU freedom of movement, meaning new retirees face rigorous visa, income, and healthcare requirements to live on the island.
If the UK theoretically rejoined the EU, Cyprus would benefit from a major economic revitalisation driven by renewed trade opportunties and restored freedom of movement.
(Reuters)
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