Farage labels Burnham’s EU rejoining decision a ‘Brexit betrayal’
‘Brexit betrayal.’ That’s how Nigel Farage has described Andy Burnham’s decision to open the door to Britain rejoining the European Union, reports BritPanorama.
The comments come amid escalating tensions as political battle lines are drawn for the next general election. Farage, speaking at a rally in northern England, stated, “If Andy Burnham, the King of the North, wants a fight in Doncaster and the ‘Red Wall’ with me on rejoining the EU, then bring it on, I say.”
He expressed gratitude to Burnham, suggesting that it may provide his party with a significant political boost. Farage further accused the prime minister of betraying Leave voters in his Makerfield constituency, branding Burnham a hypocrite for attempting to build a coalition of voters, including Liberal Democrats, that would reverse Brexit.
Polling experts indicate that there may be a growing appetite among voters for such a coalition. Professor Sir John Curtice revealed in an exclusive interview that support for rejoining the EU has reached 61%, the highest level since the Brexit vote in 2016.
Despite this rise, Curtice noted that few politicians have dared to discuss Brexit or the possibility of rejoining the EU openly. He suggested that a political figure who advocates for reentry could tap into even greater support.
Moreover, Ben Judah, a former adviser to Ed Miliband, stated that if rejoining becomes a campaign issue, Burnham could potentially craft a coalition capable of achieving a ‘reverse’ Boris Johnson victory, similar to the one seen in 2019 with the slogan ‘get Brexit done’.
This policy proposition could benefit Burnham strategically. However, Farage believes it will bolster his party’s fortunes as well. Reform UK, having enjoyed a year of polling superiority over Labour, faced challenges following the change of prime minister and Burnham’s subsequent rise.
Amid these developments, the Reform party appears to be grappling with significant internal issues, including accusations against Farage for avoiding media scrutiny related to a £5m donation from a Thai billionaire.
Additionally, the Metropolitan Police launched a criminal investigation regarding allegations that Reform UK breached party donation regulations concerning illegal foreign funding. The party has denied any wrongdoing and pledged to cooperate with the inquiry.
Despite these setbacks, Reform UK has recently secured two substantial £36m donations, enhancing its resources ahead of the upcoming election.
The political landscape remains fraught with uncertainty. Burnham’s potential push to reverse Brexit could set the stage for a contentious electoral battle, one that Farage and Reform UK are likely to vigorously oppose.
As the next general election looms, the impact of these developments on party dynamics and voter sentiment is yet to unfold.
