Andy Burnham has been warned of the “ultimate humiliation” amid plans for a “reset” with the European Union.
Speaking to GB News, former No10 Special Adviser Oscar Reddrop said becoming realigned with the bloc would be a “betrayal” of Britons who voted to leave a decade ago.
Amid his visit to the UK, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been invited by the EU to become an “associate member”.
On Wednesday, European Commission leader Ursula von der Leyen threw her support behind “opening the door” to establish much closer ties with Canada across key sectors.
Questioned on whether the UK would follow suit amid Mr Burnham’s plans for a “reset” of EU relations, Mr Reddrop told GB News that it would mean the PM “kneeling to his backbenchers”.
He said: “The Canada movement towards the EU, that’s crazy geographically, but there’s less pain there, there’s less damage there. There’s less divisiveness there. Weirdly, oddly enough.
“But for us, if Andy Burnham was to kind of kneel to these backbench MPs who were pushing us in that direction for the UK to become some honorary associate member, that would be in many ways, I think, an ultimate humiliation for this country.”
The ex-adviser warned that the move would be a “betrayal” of Britons who voted to leave the EU.
Oscar Reddrop warns of an ‘ultimate humiliation’ for Andy Burnham amid ‘reset’ with Brussels
He said: “And don’t get me wrong, the tidal wave that is coming, that is about to hit Burnham and this country on the cost of borrowing, energy costs, the budget where it’s doomed if you do, damned if you don’t kind of dynamics at play.
“Is he going to think of something totally wild and out of the box like some real, almost formalised association with the EU and partnership? But the betrayal, the betrayal it would be for the millions of people that voted to leave.”
Looking ahead to the Budget in October, Mr Reddrop stressed that the current economic picture for the country is “frightening”.
He told GB News: “On the decisions that are to come, without being too depressing, the kind of the economic outlook at the moment is as bleak, and it’s actually bordering on quite frightening, I think.
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney watched Everton’s League Cup tie against Wolves with fellow Toffees fan Andy Burnham
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“And the real decision is either do you cut spend? Will Burnham cut spending? Ultimately, I don’t think he’s going to have the bottle for that personally.”
Mr Reddrop added: “The other alternative is, of course, tax rises, and I don’t think the backs of the British people can take that.
“So I genuinely, as someone who’s obviously worked in No10 now coming on TV as a commentator, I don’t know, there is pain either way.”
Responding to Mr Reddrop, host Mark White then argued that if the PM decides to “tax the rich” in the Budget, it could result in “more rich individuals leaving the country”.
Mr Reddrop told GB News that the economic outlook for Britain is ‘frightening’
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GB NEWS
Mark highlighted: “It’ll be tax the rich even more and then more in the way of rich individuals will be leaving the country.
“We got the news of one billionaire just a week ago, leaving with the £330million annually that he was paying into the Exchequer. It seems very short-sighted?”
Mr Reddrop agreed: “Yeah, and actually, it won’t just be the rich. My concern and my fear and my worries is that lent to his own gut instincts of his politics and the people around him, it will be people watching this show.
“People who are probably working two or three jobs in their household or whatever. I think tax rises in some form or another are coming for us all in a couple of months.”
Andy Burnham Facing ‘Ultimate Humiliation’ Amid Plans for ‘EU Reset’ – ‘Frightening!’
Andy Burnham is facing fresh criticism over his plans to reset Britain’s relationship with the European Union, with a former Downing Street adviser warning that a move towards closer alignment with Brussels could become an extremely difficult political test for the Prime Minister.
Oscar Reddrop, a former No 10 special adviser, has described the possibility of Britain developing a much closer formal relationship with the EU as an “ultimate humiliation”, arguing that it could be seen by some voters as a betrayal of those who backed Brexit.
His comments come at a particularly sensitive moment for Burnham’s government. The Prime Minister has been attempting to rebuild relations with Brussels while maintaining the Labour government’s stated position that Britain will not rejoin the European Union, the single market or the customs union.
At the same time, the debate has intensified because of the EU’s increasingly close relationship with Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been discussing deeper cooperation with Brussels, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has spoken positively about developing closer ties with Canada across several strategic areas.
The developments have prompted questions about whether a similar model could eventually be considered for Britain.
For critics of Burnham’s approach, that possibility represents a major political dividing line.
Canada’s changing relationship with Europe
Canada has recently emerged as an interesting example in discussions about Britain’s future relationship with the EU.
Carney addressed the European Parliament this week and received a warm reception as he discussed closer cooperation between Canada and the bloc.
The proposed areas of cooperation include energy, critical minerals, technology, defence industries and other strategic sectors.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also indicated that Brussels wants to deepen the relationship with Canada, describing a future partnership that could go beyond the existing trade framework.
That does not mean Canada is automatically becoming an EU member.
Nor does it mean that Britain has been offered the same arrangement.
Nevertheless, the Canadian discussions have generated considerable interest in Westminster because they raise the possibility of new forms of association between the EU and countries outside the bloc.
For Burnham’s critics, the question is whether Britain might eventually seek something similar.
The warning from Reddrop
Speaking to GB News, Reddrop argued that such a development would carry serious political consequences.
He said that if Burnham were to respond to pressure from pro-European MPs by seeking a highly formalised association with the EU, it could represent an “ultimate humiliation” for Britain.
He also described such a move as a potential “betrayal” of people who voted to leave the EU.
These are political assessments rather than established facts about what a future UK-EU agreement would mean.
The criticism nevertheless highlights the continuing sensitivity of Brexit within British politics.
The 2016 referendum produced a decision to leave the EU, but the debate over Britain’s relationship with Europe did not end when the UK formally departed.
Instead, arguments over trade, regulation, migration, security and cooperation have continued.
Burnham’s government now faces the challenge of deciding how much closer Britain should become to the bloc without crossing the red lines that Labour has previously established.
Burnham’s EU position
The Prime Minister has repeatedly said that he wants to deepen Britain’s relationship with European neighbours.
During a meeting with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Friday, Burnham said the relationship between Britain and Ireland was important “on every single level” and confirmed that the government wanted to use an upcoming UK-EU summit to take further steps towards closer relations with Europe.
Martin, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, also expressed support for stronger links between Britain and the European Union.
The meeting illustrates the diplomatic side of Burnham’s approach.
Rather than seeking to reopen the Brexit referendum or immediately reverse Britain’s departure from the EU, the government has been pursuing individual agreements designed to reduce practical barriers and strengthen cooperation.
That includes discussions around agricultural and food standards, border procedures, carbon markets and youth mobility.
The government has maintained that these policies are compatible with remaining outside the EU’s central institutions.
The “Made in Europe” problem
One of the most difficult areas is the EU’s proposed “Made in Europe” initiative.
The scheme is intended to encourage European manufacturing and reduce dependence on overseas supply chains.
For Britain, however, there is concern that rules favouring European-produced goods could disadvantage British companies competing for contracts in Europe.
Burnham has specifically warned that the proposals could create significant problems for British steel.
He has indicated that Britain wants to be included in the scheme or receive arrangements that protect British industry.
But negotiations have proved difficult.
The Financial Times reported that the next major UK-EU discussions have been delayed again, with a summit now unlikely before late November because of disagreements surrounding the initiative.
That delay could make the coming months particularly important for Burnham.
The Prime Minister wants to demonstrate that his reset can produce practical benefits.
Yet the EU has its own interests and is not necessarily prepared to offer Britain every concession it requests.
A difficult economic backdrop
The EU debate is taking place alongside serious economic pressures.
Reddrop told GB News that the economic outlook was “frightening” and argued that Burnham would face difficult decisions ahead of the Budget.
He suggested that the government could face pressure to either reduce spending or increase taxation.
Those comments reflect a wider political debate about the government’s fiscal position.
The October Budget is expected to be an important test of Burnham’s administration, particularly as ministers attempt to balance spending commitments with the need to maintain confidence in the public finances.
Reddrop argued that either route could create political difficulties.
Reducing spending could trigger opposition from public-sector groups and campaigners.
Increasing taxes could create resistance among households and businesses.
The government’s decisions will therefore be closely scrutinised regardless of its eventual choices.
The politics of Brexit
The EU reset debate cannot easily be separated from the political legacy of Brexit.
Supporters of closer relations argue that Britain’s geographical and economic position makes cooperation with the EU important.
The EU remains a major trading partner for the UK, and British companies operate within supply chains that cross European borders.
Reducing unnecessary barriers could therefore benefit some businesses.
Opponents take a different view.
They argue that Brexit was intended to give Britain greater freedom to establish its own rules and policies. From that perspective, increasingly close alignment with European regulations could reduce some of the practical independence gained by leaving the EU.
The disagreement is not necessarily about whether Britain should cooperate with Europe.
Both sides accept that Britain and European countries have strong economic, security and geographical links.
The central dispute is over the depth and terms of that cooperation.
Could Britain follow Canada’s example?
At present, there is no evidence that Burnham has committed his government to seeking the kind of formal relationship being discussed between Canada and the EU.
Indeed, the government’s existing position remains that Britain will not rejoin the EU, the single market or the customs union.
The Canadian discussions are nevertheless relevant because they demonstrate that the EU is willing to explore new forms of cooperation with countries outside the bloc.
The Institute for Government has noted that closer EU-Canada relations could have implications for Britain’s own negotiations, while also warning that a new Canadian arrangement would not automatically create a similar opportunity for the UK.
There are significant differences between the two countries.
Canada is geographically distant from Europe and has a different economic and political relationship with the EU.
Britain, by contrast, is a former member located directly across the English Channel and remains deeply integrated with European markets.
That makes Britain’s negotiations particularly complicated.
Pressure from both directions
Burnham therefore finds himself under pressure from opposing sides.
Those who want closer relations with Europe are likely to argue that the government should be more ambitious.
Those who prioritise Brexit independence will resist any agreement that appears to transfer decision-making power back towards Brussels.
The Prime Minister has attempted to occupy a middle position.
His message is that Britain can improve relations with Europe without reversing Brexit.
Whether that position remains sustainable will depend heavily on the details of any future agreement.
For example, cooperation over food standards might make trade easier while requiring Britain to remain aligned with EU rules in that particular area.
A youth mobility agreement could give younger people more opportunities to live and work abroad but would inevitably involve negotiations over eligibility and duration.
Closer carbon-market cooperation could benefit businesses while requiring coordination between regulatory systems.
Each individual agreement therefore carries its own political and economic implications.
The road ahead
The next stage of the EU reset is likely to be dominated by negotiations over these practical questions.
Burnham’s meeting with Micheál Martin demonstrates that his government intends to continue pursuing closer European relations.
At the same time, the delays surrounding the UK-EU summit demonstrate that closer relations will not necessarily be achieved quickly.
The EU has its own priorities, member states have different interests and European institutions must agree on major changes.
For Burnham, the challenge is to show that his strategy can produce concrete benefits while avoiding the impression that Britain is gradually being drawn back into the structures it left.
For his critics, the concern is that incremental agreements could eventually amount to a much deeper change in Britain’s relationship with Europe.
For supporters, those same agreements could simply represent pragmatic efforts to make Brexit work more effectively.
The difference between those interpretations will remain at the heart of the political debate.
A defining test for Burnham
The Prime Minister’s EU policy is therefore likely to remain under intense scrutiny as the year progresses.
The “ultimate humiliation” warning from Reddrop reflects one side of the argument, while Burnham’s own statements about strengthening ties with Europe reflect another.
Neither phrase determines what Britain’s future relationship with the EU will actually become.
That will depend on negotiations, legislation and decisions made by both sides.
What is already clear is that the debate has moved beyond the question of whether Britain should simply have a better relationship with Brussels.
The more difficult question is what “better” actually means.
Does it mean easier trade? Greater cooperation on security? Shared standards in selected sectors? More opportunities for young people? Or, eventually, a much deeper form of association?
Burnham has so far argued for closer relations while maintaining the central Brexit red lines.
The coming negotiations, particularly those involving “Made in Europe”, will reveal how far that approach can realistically go.
And with the Budget approaching at the same time, the Prime Minister faces pressure on two major fronts: Britain’s economic direction at home and its relationship with Europe abroad.
The choices made over the coming months could therefore have lasting consequences for the government’s wider political strategy — and for the shape of Britain’s post-Brexit relationship with the European Union.