'Andy Burnham's silence is deafening - he's just buried his head in the sand'
Andy Burnham's silence is deafening - and he's about to hand Farage a huge victory
Andy Burnham is odds-on to be PM - but the Brexit question he kept dodging in a 65% Leave seat could come to define his premiership.
Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied
Add us as preferred source Comments ANALYSIS By Aaron Newbury, Political Correspondent 05:30, Tue, Jun 23, 2026 
Now odds-on to become Britain's next Prime Minister in what could be a coronation as other candidates step aside, Andy Burnham spent years arguing for the UK to head back into the EU. Yet the seat that carried him back to Westminster, Makerfield, voted by 65% to leave it. It could be that tension which sits at the heart of the questions now being asked about what a Burnham premiership would mean for Britain's historic vote to leave.
Wannabe Prime Minister Burnham has never masked his instincts on the continent, having long favoured deeper alignment with Brussels. He has even spoken of Britain rejoining and firmly belongs to the wing of the Labour Party most enthusiastic about a so-called reset of relations with the bloc. But during the by-election, he kept remarkably silent about the subject.
Get the latest politics news - straight from our team in Westminster and more Invalid emailWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
- I stood in Downing Street as Keir Starmer resigned - 1 thing completely shocked me
- BBC forced to explain why loud joyous music was playing during Keir Starmer resignation
When Wes Streeting sought to push the question of rejoining the agenda, Mr Burnham deflected it.
And when confronted by this newspaper directly, he declined to engage and simply jogged away.
His office subsequently turned down a request for an interview, giving no reason.
For a politician seeking the keys to Downing Street in a constituency that voted overwhelmingly to leave, it was a telling silence.
Brexiteers would be right to be entirely unconvinced about the legitimacy of Mr Burnham's position.
Many senior figures in that historic campaign are concerned not that he will openly campaign to rejoin, but that Brexit could continue to be eroded by stealth.
That would take place through the expansion of "dynamic alignment" with EU rules, deeper concessions on standards and oversight, and a gradual convergence that is never put to voters directly.
In short, Mr Burnham could seek a reversal of the referendum by increment rather than by vote.
A potential Burnham coronation will only serve to embolden those who seek closer ties.
This week marks 10 years since the 2016 vote. It marks a totemic moment in British political history, and the Daily Express is proud to have been the first paper ever to demand that the United Kingdom break free of Brussels.
So the electoral risks of an undermining of Brexit by stealth are considerable.
Reform UK, beaten into second in Makerfield, will quickly pounce on any sign of backsliding to court Leave voters across the so-called Red Wall, where Labour remains vulnerable.
A Burnham Government seen to be edging back towards Brussels could hand Nigel Farage exactly the dividing line he wants.
For now, Mr Burnham is keeping his options closed and his language careful.
But the Brexit question, long thought settled, has been reopened by his rise - and how he answers it may come to define his time in office.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
