Deputy Prime Minister Rejects Call for UK to Rejoin EU

He described a proposal by former health secretary Wes Streeting to rejoin the EU as a sixth form debate and said the party should focus on delivery. Lammy made the comments during a broadcast round on the Today programme. He said Labour should not spend weeks on internal debate about the EU because the public would not forgive it and the discussion would benefit Reform UK.

The comments came amid reports that Andy Burnham is preparing to return to Westminster and could become Labour leader by the autumn. Wes Streeting, who resigned as health secretary last week, said at the weekend that he wanted the UK to rejoin the EU.

Lammy said the party was elected on a manifesto that ruled out joining the single market or customs union. Lammy also said Labour should focus on delivery rather than internal arguments. He stated that ten days of internal discussion might be acceptable but ten weeks would leave the party out of office.

Conservative deputy chair Matt Vickers confirmed that the party will put up a candidate in the Makerfield by-election. Vickers told Sky News that voters in Makerfield should have a choice between the Conservative and Reform candidates. He said people who want to see the welfare state reduced can vote for Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives.