Asked in the Caribbean if he thought the people of Makerfield support freedom of movement, Burnham said:
“I have not proposed freedom of movement coming back. I do believe that we should have an honest discussion with people about how immigration has changed since the Brexit vote because the shorter term migration of people coming from Europe and then going back has been replaced with long term settlement in bigger numbers and that was the Boris wave I mentioned a moment ago. I feel it has led to a more illegal migration because we can’t share data anymore.
And you know, I noticed in the middle of the by election that public opinion had changed in the Makerfield constituency over those 10 years. I think public opinion has changed nationally. But I want to be really clear on this issue. I will not run ahead of public opinion. The public need to be the boss when it comes to whatever happens with Brexit.”
More in Common polling has found that 51% of Brits say restoring freedom of movement an acceptable price for rejoining the EU, which drops down to only 31% when it is accurately called “removing limits on immigration”. In that case the share who find it unacceptable nearly doubles from 23% to 45%. Poisoned chalice…
Krishnan Guru-Murthy asked John Healey: “Just finally, I mean Andy Burnham has been very clear he wants Britain back in the European Union in his lifetime. Do you?”
The Chancellor replied: “I’m older than Andy Burnham. I don’t expect to see that.”