Burnham Calls Brexit a Dereliction, Urges New EU Deal

In a House of Commons statement on Monday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham warned that Britain’s refusal to pursue closer ties with the EU would be a ‘dereliction of duty’. He cited a U. K. official’s brief that most of the public would support a relationship that curbs immigration and stimulates growth. At Labour’s annual conference, Burnham said Brexit had done ‘more harm than good’ and pledged to use the upcoming U. K. –EU summit to outline options for a long‑term partnership, including a possible future manifesto that could call for an ‘in‑out’ referendum on re‑joining the bloc. He also confirmed that Russia interfered in the 2016 referendum, a claim that Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty said was not successful and that the result remains legitimate. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage dismissed the interference claim as ‘outrageous’ and accused Burnham of lying, while noting that Brexit has caused inconvenience for some businesses.