Politics LIVE – Andy Burnham ramps up Brexit betrayal fears as he cosies up to EU leaders

Detailed summary

Follow live as Andy Burnham meets European leaders a week before his crunch Brussels summit, as Brexiteers warn of a full-throttle betrayal.

Andy Burnham is jetting in to meet European leaders later today in Dublin, fresh from lecturing the world on net zero at a sun-soaked climate summit in Turkey.

The Prime Minister flew into the Mediterranean resort of Antalya last night for the UN’s Cop31 gathering, where he was the only G7 leader billed to speak.

There he boasted that the UK would be recommitting to its 2050 net zero target as he pledged “a new era of climate leadership”.

Now he is heading off to cosy up to European leaders, a week before his crunch Brussels love-in with Eurocrats.

Brexiteers, like Nigel Farage, have warned the Remainer PM is gearing up for a full-throttle betrayal of the countries vote to leave, after he refused to rule out a return to free movement or the single market in the long term.

The Reform UK leder has previously pointed to the Prime Minister’s assurances that he would not reopen the Brexit arguments, saying doing so "is a total betrayal of Brexit Britain and Burnham’s Makerfield pitch".

Asked whether flying to Turkey and then Ireland for the European Political Community meeting was a good use of taxpayer money and a good example to people for reaching net zero, Downing Street said: “As I’ve said, the Prime Minister has been very clear that the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat and he feels that it’s extremely important to meet with other leaders and address to help address the key challenges posed by climate change.

“On the European Political Community meeting, as I set out, he will attend a number of meetings there, including on Ukraine, with the hope of making further progress towards a just and lasting peace there.”

Downing Street has defended Andy Burnham’s attendance at the Cop31 summit amid questions about whether the trip was a good use of time.

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