Andy Burnham reignites Brexit blame game in first Welsh Labour address since historic battering at May elections

Andy Burnham has reignited the Brexit blame game in his first address to the Welsh Labour Conference as Prime Minister this weekend.

Mr Burnham hit out at the Tories for "burning all our bridges" with the EU after leaving the bloc.

He added the nation had "lost more than we've gained over the last 10 years", fuelling further fears over his bid to bring Britain closer to its European allies.

The Prime Minister told Welsh Labour Conference: "We’ve got the Conservatives who are standing out against it, saying no change.

"Well, I don’t believe Brexit and the deal that they got has been good enough for Britain.

"I think we’ve lost more than we’ve gained over the last 10 years, and, actually, I think the Conservatives gave Britain a harsher and harder Brexit than people thought they were getting when they voted in 2016...

"Because they burned all of our bridges in the aftermath with the EU.

"So I’m going to lead as Prime Minister on this issue, and I’m going to go and try and get the best deal I can for Wales, for those here who could benefit, Welsh farmers, exporters of Welsh shellfish and Welsh lamb."

With the key EU-UK summit due to take place next week, critics fear Mr Burnham is gearing up to buckle over food and farming industries.

But, today, Mr Burnham told his gaggle of supporters that voters would be "the boss" of any changes, insisting he would respect the 2016 decision to leave the EU.

The Prime Minister said any deal with Brussels would "respect the red lines in our manifesto and respecting the referendum result".

He said: "People working together in unions, trade unions, but also unions of nations, and that’s what makes us who we are.

LABOUR LATEST:

• Andy Burnham edges closer to EU reset as PM declares new Brexit deal is 'what voters wanted in 2016'
• Andy Burnham faces Brexit civil war as GB News reveals list of Labour MPs who oppose rejoining EU
• 'Tone deaf' Labour accused of using Remembrance Sunday to 'pitch EU membership'

"And, yes, working with the European Union, as I said, but at the same time respecting the red lines in our manifesto and respecting the referendum result."

Mr Burnham has repeatedly promised to abide by Labour's 2024 manifesto since entering No10 in July, although he has admitted he would have penned it differently.

While he was campaigning to become Makerfield's MP, he told the constituency's Brexit-backing voters he would not "re-run" Brexit arguments.

But, since then, the Prime Minister has admitted he would like to see Britain join the bloc once again "within his lifetime" - a claim which raised eyebrows even within his own party.

His Chancellor, when asked to respond to the claims, quipped: "I'm older than Andy Burnham. I don't expect to see that."

South Shields MP Emma Lewell told Britain's News Channel: "We should 100 per cent stay out."

Graham Stringer, who is Labour’s lone remaining 2016 Brexiteer in the Commons, added: "The largest democratic vote in our history should not be overturned to enter a failing EU on worse terms than we had."

Around 10 Labour seats would be lost directly to Nigel Farage's Reform UK if Mr Burnham moved Labour to adopt a more pro-EU approach, More in Common's September 2026 MRP poll revealed.