Andy Burnham says he could support a second EU referendum after all
2 min read
Andy Burnham has said he could support a referendum on the Brexit deal - just days after slamming "arrogant" campaigners demanding one.
The Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester said a fresh vote may be necessary if "we are left on the cliff-edge of No Deal with no other options".
His comments, in a speech in London on Wednesday morning, are in stark contrast to comments he made on another referendum last week.
Speaking to the Politico website, he said: "My frustration with those leaping to a second referendum is it further inflames this idea of an arrogant political class, which isn't listening and isn't dealing with the issues that gave rise to the referendum in the first place."
But in his speech at the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, the former Labour frontbencher will say a so-called "People's Vote" may be the only way to heal the divisions caused by the Brexit debate.
Mr Burnham said: "As soon as it becomes clear that the MPs against a no-deal outcome cannot unite around a plan, I would urge all Greater Manchester MPs to support a call on the EU for an extension of Article 50 beyond the March deadline as the next way of stopping No Deal.
"This isn’t about frustrating Brexit. It is about getting Brexit right.
"If that fails and we are left on the cliff-edge of No Deal with no other options, then and only then would I endorse the call for a People’s Vote on the proposed no-deal departure and encourage our MPs to do the same.
"A price would undoubtedly be paid in terms of social cohesion but it would be a necessary one to protect the damage to people’s jobs, families and lives. I realise that this is an unfashionably-nuanced position when simplistic big positions are all the rage."
Mr Burnham will also use his his speech to repeat his calls for "substantial devolution of power and resources out of Westminster to all of the English regions".
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
