Former Labour adviser Ben Judah has suggested that Andy Burnham should rethink his opposition to calling a snap general election and instead make the reversal of Brexit the focal point of the campaign, reports BritPanorama.
Burnham attempted to downplay the prospect of an early election during interviews preceding the Labour Party conference. Despite this, Judah, who served as a special adviser to David Lammy in the Foreign Office, believes that by embracing a clear European strategy, the prime minister could secure a decisive election victory similar to Boris Johnson’s in 2019.
Judah warned that failing to act swiftly on European relations could lead to the same mistakes made by Keir Starmer‘s government, where issues regarding Europe were addressed too late to grasp potential economic and political benefits.
As Burnham arrived at the party conference in Liverpool, he hinted at a desire for a “new direction” since Brexit, notably indicating a willingness to reconsider engagements with the EU. “We have had a decade since Brexit, and it has been a decade of too much drift and too much division. We need to draw a line on that,” he stated during his address at the M&S Arena.
The former adviser Judah urged Burnham to leverage the growing public support for rejoining the EU, now at its highest since the Brexit referendum a decade ago. He posited that a bold campaign focusing on this issue could replicate the electoral success previously enjoyed by Johnson.
Polling data released recently by YouGov suggested a hung Parliament was likely, yet Judah maintained that the right approach could galvanize a Labour victory similar to that seen in 2019, when Johnson achieved an 80-seat majority by promising to “Get Brexit Done.”
In an interview regarding the Europe: The Way Back campaign, Judah remarked, “I think he can pull off a kind of reverse Johnson, and I think that the key thing is to make rejoining the European Union the ultimate objective.”
Judah claimed that a reversal pledge would appeal to disenchanted voters who currently support various parties, including the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party, asserting that this alignment could enable Labour to secure a parliamentary majority.
Burnham, when questioned about the potential for a rejoin commitment in Labour’s future manifesto, did not dismiss the possibility. The momentum for this possible shift will be further highlighted at a major Labour Movement for Europe rally scheduled for Sunday, featuring remarks from Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband.
Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair has been vocal in advising Burnham to consider rejoining the EU within ten years, advocating for a “new approach” to post-Brexit relations.
Recent reports from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) indicate that Brexit has cost the UK a staggering £6.5 billion annually in lost exports due to decreased mutual recognition with the EU. Judah suggested that if Burnham were to publicly commit to rejoining the EU, it would provide an opportunity to postpone anticipated challenges in the upcoming Budget.
Victory in such an election could relieve financial pressures on future Budgets by instilling confidence in markets that Britain possesses a coherent growth strategy, which might also mitigate the debt burden the government currently faces.
Judah proposed a phased approach to rejoining the EU, beginning with a commitment to either the customs union or single market before fully reintegrating into the EU structure. He emphasized the importance of articulating this strategy to voters to foster their understanding of the benefits.
He cautioned that without a clarion call towards EU re-engagement, Burnham might echo the missteps of Starmer’s administration, where meaningful discussions on Europe were deferred until it became diplomatically and politically challenging.
Judah’s reflections suggested that threats loomed for Labour, identifying that Burnham’s current popularity might soon plateau. He cautioned of an arduous winter ahead, amid worsening geopolitical tensions and public uncertainties regarding political authority.
In light of Judah’s remarks, Downing Street reminded observers of the prime minister’s stance on Brexit communicated while on route to the UN General Assembly, underlining a commitment to foster better relationships with EU allies alongside considering Labour’s potential direction on rejoining.
The unfolding dialogue within the Labour Party illustrates not just internal ambitions but broader electoral strategies that resonate with an electorate grappling with the complexities of Brexit’s legacy.
