Andy Burnham tears into David Cameron over Brexit intervention

Detailed summary

Andy Burnham's comments came after David Cameron — who resigned after losing the 2016 he triggered — warned against opening the door to rejoining the EU and kick-staring a "decade-long debate"

Andy Burnham has lashed out at David Cameron’s surprise Brexit intervention, accusing him of being more concerned with Tory unity than British interests.

The Prime Minister’s comments came after the failed ex-Conservative leader — who resigned after losing the 2016 referendum he triggered — warned against opening the door to rejoining the EU and kick-staring a “decade-long debate”.

Lord Cameron also appeared lukewarm on the possibility of rejoining a customs union, saying today’s economic problems are not down to Brexit in an interview with Bloomberg.

But Mr Burnham told reporters on Thursday: “I think he is wrong to say that the low growth that we've had over the last decade has quote ‘nothing to do with Brexit’.

“I would say the evidence says otherwise and indeed the Treasury analysis says otherwise, which is, if we are able to come to a good working arrangement on emissions trading, on agri food, on other things as well, that we can add growth to the British economy. So I think he is wrong to say that."

He added: “It feels like his intervention is more about unity in the Conservative Party that it is about fighting for the British, the British interests.”

Mr Burnham also insisted the country ended up with a “far harder Brexit” than the country thought “they were getting when they went to the polls”.

The Prime Minister was discussing Lord Cameron’s comments at the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Dublin. Next week, Mr Burnham will also meet EU leaders at a high-stakes summit in Brussels to agree a new post-Brexit agreement.

The Labour leader said he believed a “win-win” deal could be done with the EU that could be “more like the Brexit that people thought they were voting for in 2016”.

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