Why the prime minister wants to talk about Brexit again

The prime minister, Andy Burnham, is now open to discussing Brexit again after years of it being the sole focus in Westminster. The Labour Party's leader has repeatedly emphasized that Brexit has caused more harm than good and that the status quo is not good enough for Britain. He has made this argument at the Labour Party Conference and in the House of Commons.

Burnham's main objectives are to deepen the UK's relationship with the EU at an upcoming summit in Brussels and to outline Labour's potential stance in the next general election manifesto, which could include an in-out referendum. He believes that a more pragmatic relationship with Brussels can help cut illegal immigration and boost economic growth.

Burnham also claims that there is evidence of Russian interference in the Brexit referendum, though he did not specify the details or source of this information. His opponents, including Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, have criticized him, with Johnson even calling Burnham a liar regarding the Russian interference claim.

Some political opponents argue that the decision to leave the EU was made by the British public a decade ago and that politicians should defend that decision instead.

Despite the criticism, Burnham sees this as an opportunity to tap into public sentiment, as polls suggest a majority of people believe Brexit has not turned out as expected. He hopes to attract pro-Europeans from various political parties, potentially broadening Labour's support base. The focus of the next five weeks will be on short-term wins in areas such as youth mobility, food and drink, and energy.