Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy warns against repeating Brexit debates
Nandy said the government should pursue closer EU ties without reopening the 2016 vote, as Prime Minister Andy Burnham prepares for a Brussels summit.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated on Sunday that the UK government should avoid "circular arguments" regarding whether to rejoin the European Union. She told the BBC that while she does not believe anyone wants to repeat the in-or-out debate, the country has been let down over the last decade.
Nandy, who represents the Wigan constituency that voted heavily for Leave in 2016, expressed caution about reversing Brexit. When asked directly if she wanted to go back into the bloc, she replied, "I don't know if that's a choice we have."
She acknowledged that Prime Minister Andy Burnham is addressing the failings of the existing Brexit deal. Speaking to Sky News, Nandy said it was important to be honest and highlight that the current deal differs from what was promised to voters. She emphasized that trade-offs and choices must be made through a national conversation.
Nandy indicated that Brexit will be a key theme in the next election campaign. She is part of a small group of cabinet ministers concerned that Burnham's plan for an "honest conversation" could reopen divisions and benefit Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
Burnham is scheduled to attend the European Political Community summit in Dublin on Thursday. Downing Street sources said he intends to use the summit to finalize Labour's reset deal and meet European leaders for the first time. In private sessions, EU counterparts are expected to press him for specific ambitions regarding further integration.
Following his announcement to move beyond Labour's previous red lines on the EU after the next election, Burnham faces internal reservations. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood are cautious about pushing for full rejoining.
A Brexit reset meeting in Brussels on 20 November is expected to confirm agreements on agriculture, food, emissions trading, and youth experience visas. Officials will also discuss the agenda for the next round, which may include a renewed attempt to join the EU's 150 billion euro Safe defence fund. Other potential topics include collaboration on law enforcement, borders, and visas for touring artists.
Burnham told the Sunday Mirror that the Dublin summit would demonstrate what the UK can achieve in cooperation, but it should not mark the end of its ambition. No 10 sources said Burnham wants to frame the conversation before testing public opinion, rather than moving immediately to an endgame.
Senior government figures said Burnham seeks a mandate to start negotiations with the EU in the next election manifesto. Any subsequent referendum would be confirmatory. One official noted that the public cannot be asked to vote on an undefined plan, citing the 2016 vote as a mistake by David Cameron.
Former EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told the BBC that London cannot select specific freedoms from the single market. He stated, "There is no cherrypicking. There will be no possibility to have one freedom and not the other."
Nandy responded to Conservative criticisms that linking the rejoining of the Erasmus Plus scheme to Remembrance Sunday was inappropriate. Conservative chair Kevin Hollinrake said veterans did not fight for a student exchange scheme. Nandy countered that the opposition was the only party discussing Brexit and the EU, adding that she wanted young people to understand the contributions of their grandparents.
