Andy Burnham says he would 'like to see' UK rejoin EU but insists 'British public are the bosses'

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has reaffirmed his personal desire for the UK to rejoin the European Union, while stressing that any such move must be led by the public rather than politicians. In an interview on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Burnham told hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley that he is 'pragmatic' about Brexit and wants to focus on making the current relationship work, including boosting economic growth. He said, 'In my lifetime I would like to see that happen, but I am not going to move ahead of the public. I am not going to dictate in terms of my own opinions here. You have to make sure that the British public are the bosses here.' Burnham also argued that talking about Brexit in a 'more practical way' could help heal the divisions of the past decade and bring people together, regardless of how they voted in the 2016 referendum. His comments come after Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced criticism for suggesting he might consider accepting EU free movement rules in a future negotiation, a stance Burnham has previously echoed at Labour conference. Burnham dismissed speculation about an early election, saying, 'There is no election coming anytime soon. People may as well just put that out of their mind.' The intervention highlights the ongoing sensitivity within Labour over Brexit policy as the party balances its electoral coalition against a backdrop of shifting public opinion.