Andy Burnham and his chancellor appear to be at odds over Brexit after the prime minister reopened the debate on the issue a few weeks ago.
The prime minister earlier this week insisted that Britain’s departure from the European Union had “weakened our economy” and called for a renewed conversation about our relationship with the EU.
He has also said it’s “possible” Labour’s next election manifesto could include an in-out referendum on rejoining the EU and at the weekend said he wants an “honest discussion” about Britain readopting freedom of movement with the EU.
But John Healey has denied that Britain’s growth would be stronger if the UK was in the EU or single market, saying: “We had a referendum. We’re out of the European Union.”
Asked whether growth would be stronger if Britain was in the EU or single market, Mr Healey told LBC: “Well, I don’t actually accept that. I mean, it’s certain Brexit has certainly hit our level of growth.
“It’s certainly hit our level of trade. But we had a referendum. We’re out of the European Union. The challenge for me now is how do we make the best of an economy which this year has proved remarkably resilient. It’s confounded the forecasters.”
Pressed on whether EU single market access could boost growth by as much as 5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), he said: “Well, that’s part of a bigger conversation that the prime minister wants the country to have because he recognises – and everybody, many other people do – that our Brexit deal was not a good one.
“It’s not been good for Britain over the last decade. But my job now, is to make sure, when you’re talking about growth, is to try and reinforce that resilience in the British economy.”
Earlier this week, the prime minister admitted he wants to see Britain rejoin the European Union in his lifetime – but insisted he would not return the UK to EU freedom of movement rules without a referendum.
While the prime minister has said he would not “move ahead of the public” or “dictate” his own beliefs, he argued that Brexit has not “played out as people said it would at the time”.
It comes just weeks after Mr Burnham said the UK could go “all the way” and rejoin the bloc, but insisted the British public will “be the boss” of the nation’s future.
The prime minister is set to meet EU chiefs for a key summit in Brussels next month, where he wants to lock in deals on food and drink, emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme allowing young people to live, study and work in the bloc with fewer restrictions.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Mr Burnham was forced to deny his position had changed since he promised not to “re-run” old Brexit arguments while fighting the by-election that catapulted him into No 10 in the Leave-voting seat of Makerfield earlier this year.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch asked him why the prime minister why he had reopened the debate on the UK-EU relationship in the days leading up to the Budget and accused him of failing to “respect” the result of the 2016 referendum.
“There is no confusion at all,” Mr Burnham told MPs. “The government has a collectively agreed position, which I have set out today.
“It is entirely consistent with everything that I’ve said, including in the by-election.”
He added: “I am doing what I can do to get a better deal for Britain. I’m getting a better deal for Britain.”
He said he had the support of British industry, citing backing from the Confederation of British Industry, the Federation of Small Business, the British Retail Consortium, Asda, Morrisons, Marks and Spencers.
“They all support what we’re trying to do, why doesn’t she join with us, with other colleagues across this House, and send a strong message that Britain is calling for a better Brexit deal, so that we can get growth going again?” he added.
