Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the UK should avoid reopening divisive Brexit debates and instead focus on economic reform, growth, and national unity.

Speaking at the Great North Investment Summit in Leeds, Burnham described Brexit as “damaging” but stressed that the 2016 referendum result should be respected. 

He said the country needed a “relentless domestic focus” to address structural economic problems and restore public confidence.

Highlighting his position on Europe, Burnham said: “I am not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU.”

Burnham added that he supports the government’s efforts to build a “stronger, more collaborative approach with Europe”.

The comments come as Burnham seeks a return to Parliament through the upcoming Makerfield by-election, a move widely viewed as positioning him for a potential future Labour leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer.  

ℹ️ The Guardian

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