There are signs Andy Burnham might be cooling on his dream of rejoining the EU today after he suggested his 'reset' deal can be the 'Brexit people voted for'.
uncertain
people → be → EU
The PM claimed he was implementing the result of the 2016 referendum as he prepares to make big concessions to seal the package at a crunch summit next week.
asserted
he → claim → summit
After holding talks with EU leaders in Dublin, Mr Burnham hinted the new terms could be enough - saying the Cabinet would decide 'what, if anything, comes next'.
uncertain
what → hold → Dublin
Before entering Downing Street Mr Burnham made no secret of his wish to see the UK re-enter the bloc in his lifetime.
asserted
UK → enter → lifetime
He previously vowed to use the summit next week to 'set up a serious dialogue' about the UK's longer-term ties.
asserted
He → vow → ties
The PM suggested he would set out 'different options' for voters, refusing to rule out a commitment to rejoining in the next Labour manifesto.
But his call for an 'honest discussion' about a return to freedom of movement has prompted a frenzy in Labour circles.
uncertain
call → suggest → circles
Andy Burnham met EU commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Dublin yesterday
Both Chancellor John Healey and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood appeared sceptical of the idea in interviews.
asserted
Healey → meet → interviews
The tensions forced Mr Burnham to write to the Cabinet ordering them not to back any particular outcome in public.
asserted
tensions → force → public
After attending the European Political Community in Dublin yesterday, Mr Burnham said he believed a 'win-win' deal could be done with the EU that could be 'more like the Brexit that people thought they were voting for in 2016'.
uncertain
they → attend → 2016
He added: 'The requests are coming from the European side.
asserted
requests → add → side
We are putting our requests on the table, too.
asserted
We → put → table
I believe there is a good deal to be done that could be a win-win for Britain and Europe.
uncertain
that → believe → Britain
It actually could be more like the Brexit people thought they were voting for in 2016.'
uncertain
they → think → 2016
Asked about the next steps after the summit, Mr Burnham said 'we'll take a decision as a Cabinet on what, if anything, comes next'.
asserted
what → ask → Cabinet
There are reports that a big Brexit speech pencilled in for November might now not happen.
uncertain
speech → be → November
However, any retreat by Mr Burnham from his pro-EU agenda might spark trouble from the other wing of his party.
uncertain
retreat → spark → party
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is understood to have put himself forward to spearhead the effort to sell the latest deal to the public.
asserted
Miliband → understand → public
One insider told the Daily Mail: 'There is a confidence amongst Ed and others that public mood has turned and SW1 is behind the curve.'
asserted
SW1 → tell → curve
Concerns are growing that Mr Burnham will make deep concessions to get better trade terms at the UK-EU summit next Friday.
asserted
Burnham → grow → summit
They could include contributions to Brussels coffers, a youth 'free movement' scheme and taking some of the bloc's rules.
uncertain
They → include → rules
Member states are also gearing up to play hardball over demands for cut-price tuition fees, while the UK might need to impose tariffs on Chinese cars to align with the bloc's stance.
uncertain
UK → gear → stance
At the start of a bilateral meeting with commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Dublin yesterday, Mr Burnham said: 'Obviously, we have a UK-EU summit seven days away now, a week tomorrow, and our teams – who are working very well – and we're really grateful to you and your colleagues.
'
asserted
we → say → you
We have potentially a deal that can be good for businesses in the UK in terms of cutting red tape, reducing costs on business, but also good for consumers as well in terms of lowering prices.
asserted
that → have → prices
'But we've got to try and get this deal over the line, and that's what today is about.'
asserted
today → get → what
Ms von der Leyen thanked officials for working 'tirelessly' in 'hard negotiations' ahead of next week's 'important' summit.
asserted
Leyen → thank → summit
In a post on X after the talks, she wrote: 'Good to meet Andy Burnham in Dublin today, ahead of next week’s EU-UK summit in Brussels.
asserted
she → write → Brussels
David Cameron has urged Andy Burnham not to rejoin the EU and reopen a 'painful' argument
'Let’s make it a summit of ambition and concrete results.
asserted
it → urge → ambition
We are very much looking forward to welcoming you in Brussels next week.'
asserted
We → look → Brussels
Former PM David Cameron delivered a stark warning earlier this week that the UK must not go back into the EU, urging Mr Burnham to stop blaming Brexit for the UK's economic woes.
asserted
UK → deliver → woes
In a major intervention, the ex-Tory premier cautioned that reopening the 'painful argument' would not do any good.
asserted
reopening → caution → good
Lord Cameron saw his own premiership derailed by his loss in the 2016 EU referendum, during which he led the Remain campaign.
asserted
he → see → campaign
The Aporia
