Andy Burnham: “Brexit has caused more damage than benefits”

“ O Brexit caused more damage than benefits,” he acknowledged during a speech at the Labour Party Congress in Liverpool.

Burnham said that he wanted to present, at the meeting, a number of options for the long-term relationship between the United Kingdom and European partners later this year.

“ And there are different options and we will see if we can reach a consensus around one of them, which will give us clarity about our position and the future of the continent in which we live,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that a decade of low economic growth left the country in a weaker position and reduced British control over the economy and immigration.

According to Burnham, leaving the EU, a process known as ‘Brexit’, has weakened cooperation with European partners in migration.

Immigration should therefore be one of the topics on the agenda for the next summit, together with measures to support the UK industries most affected by the EU exit, voted in 2016 but implemented in 2021.

Keir Starmer’s successor is a well-known pro-European and critic of ‘Brexit’, but he has avoided committing himself to a reintegration of the bloc or discussing membership of the single market, or the customs union as a third country.

The speech, the first at a Labour Congress as leader and prime minister, was used by Keir Starmer's successor to present a series of policies.

Burnham promised a plan to create in England a social care service inspired by the National Health Service (NHS), free and free of charge to pensioners with minimal reforms.

Social care reform will be financed by changes to the mechanism known as the triple lock of pensions, which currently guarantees increases in line with inflation, average wage developments or a minimum of 2.5%, with the highest value prevailing.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the mechanism will be adjusted from April 2030, but stressed that the state pension, currently around 1,200 euros per month, will continue to increase annually.

“ This amendment will allow for significant savings, which will be used to develop our National Social Care Service”, explained Burnham.

The Prime Minister also undertook to strengthen public control over the water supply system and presented plans for the creation of a public operator in the area of the power grid.

The Labour leader also announced the creation of a new national commission to study electoral reform for the adoption of a new proportional representation voting system, rather than the current simple majority system.