Summary

  • Andy Burnham tells MPs it would be a "dereliction of duty" to turn down a closer relationship with the EU - and new deals could boost growth and tackle illegal immigration

  • In a statement in Parliament, he says Britain should set up a "serious dialogue" about the future of the EU relationship, and at every stage the British public "will be the boss"

  • The PM told the BBC two weeks ago it was "possible" a future Labour manifesto could promise a new referendum

  • Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says the PM is "not going to get a better deal" as the EU "are tough negotiators"

  • On Sunday, Burnham told a podcast it was "clear" Russia had interfered in the Brexit vote. Badenoch and Lib Dem leader Ed Davey called on Burnham to share the evidence, while Reform leader Nigel Farage branded the PM "a liar"

  • In his statement, Burnham condemned Russian strikes on Ukraine, saying he welcomes President Trump's announcement of an "energy ceasefire"

  • The PM also says it is "highly likely" that Iran was behind the incident at RAF Fairford, saying it was "almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard"

Watch: The prime minister makes a Commons statement as MPs return from recess

Live Reporting

Edited by Rorey Bosotti and Jenna Moon

  1. How opposition parties are reacting to Burnham's call to expand EU deal

    Burnham's expected call for closer ties with the EU has sparked strong reaction from opposition parties. We've taken a quick look at what leaders are saying:

    • Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says it is "a terrible idea", adding: "Can you imagine having to go through that again? So much time lost, arguing with ourselves with the EU"
    • Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice accuses Burnham of "trying to sneak us back into Brussels via the back door"
    • Lib Dem leader Ed Davey says Burnham "must stop with all the 'maybes'" and get on with negotiating a "better deal for Britain"
    • Green Party leader Zack Polanski says that "full membership of the EU remains the best option for the UK", but argues Burnham's offer is only a "promise to keep our options open"

  2. Farage accuses Burnham of lying about Russian interference in Brexit referendum

    Joshua Tindall
    Political reporter

    Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in a dark blue suit, white shirt and patterned striped tie (with golden, burgundy and purple stripes) mid-speech. Behind him a low stage with a lectern and a UK flag, people milling next to it in the far-right of the frame, the words Restoring Justice in paint on a metal door in the backgroundUK POOL

    Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said Prime Minister Andy Burnham "is a liar" after he said he'd been given the "clear answer" that Russia interfered with the Brexit referendum.

    Speaking in Kent, Farage said: "Boris Johnson, when he became Foreign Secretary, one of the first questions he asked, was: Was there seen to be Russian interference in the referendum campaign? And the answer was no."

    Farage continued: "The Russia hoax has run all the way through this... This is an out-of-touch, out-of-date Andy Burnham."

    Asked about the prime minister's comments earlier on BBC Breakfast, Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty says he wouldn't "get into specifics" of Russian interference in the 2016 vote when pushed for evidence.

  3. Burnham 'absolutely accepts' Brexit result, but Russia tried to use vote to its benefit - No 10

    Andy Burnham believes the 2016 Brexit referendum result was "legitimate", Downing Street says, after the prime minister claimed there was Russian interference in the vote.

    But the prime minister's official spokesman noted it is "inconceivable" that Russia did not seek to use the referendum to their benefit. But, the spokesman adds, "as the minister [Stephen Doughty] said this morning, we do not believe they have succeeded."

    The spokesman says the PM "absolutely accepts the referendum result" and that "we do believe the referendum result to be legitimate."

    In an interview with The Rest is Politics podcast, Burnham said that upon arriving in Downing Street he had asked if there had been Russian interference in the vote, adding: "I've had the clear answer that, yes, there was."

  4. Burnham says it is 'clear' Russia interfered with Brexit vote

    Kate Whannel
    Political reporter

    Remain supporters march at westminster with EU flags.Reuters

    Andy Burnham has said Russia interfered with the Brexit referendum and warned that similar activities were taking place in France and Germany.

    The prime minister told The Rest is Politics podcast that upon arriving in No 10, he had asked about possible Russian interference in the 2016 vote, adding: "I've had the clear answer that, yes, there was."

    "I think we've been too much on the back foot on that actually and we haven't informed people sufficiently about the extent to which people are seeking to disrupt the political process from overseas," he added.

    Burnham did not provide further details about the type or extent of Moscow's activity during the Brexit referendum.

    Britain Unbound, a pro-Brexit campaign group, said Burnham's comments were "another crude attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the decision that the British people made in 2016".

    It is the first time a UK prime minister has said Russia sought to sway the 2016 Brexit poll but there have long been warnings about efforts by the Kremlin to exert influence on UK politics.

    Downing Street has since said the Brexit referendum result was "legitimate", but it is "inconceivable" that Russia did not try to use the referendum to its advantage. PM Burnham believes Moscow did not succeed in influencing the result, a No 10 spokesman said on Monday.

    We'll bring you more from Downing Street's statement in our next post.

  5. A timeline of the UK-EU relationship

    Prime Minister Andy Burnham shakes hands with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during his visit to the US to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York.PA

    Andy Burnham met with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, at the UN General Assembly in September.

    As we wait for Andy Burnham's remarks about Britain's relationship with the EU, let's take a quick look back at key moments in the UK's long history with the trading bloc.

    • In 1973 the UK joins the European Economic Community (EEC), a predecessor to the modern EU
    • A few years later in 1975, the UK holds a referendum on its EEC membership and 67% vote to remain
    • The European Union forms in 1993, the UK remains a member but opts out of agreements such as the Euro and the Schengen Area
    • In 2016, 52% of UK voters choose to leave the EU in the Brexit referendum
    • At the end of 2020, the UK government leaves the EU single market and customs union
    • A new agreement is signed between the UK and the EU in 2025, setting out post-Brexit relations on areas including fishing rights, trade and defence

  6. Rejecting closer EU ties would be dereliction of duty, PM to say

    Chris Mason
    Political editor

    Andy Burnham - wearing glasses, a shirt, tie and jacket - stands in front of the German parliament building, on top of which flies a German flagAFP via Getty Images

    Shortly, the prime minister is expected to tell the Commons it would be a "dereliction of duty" to turn down a closer relationship with the European Union - if one can be negotiated with Brussels.

    In a statement to MPs, Andy Burnham will argue it is time to "face up to the reality that Brexit has done more harm than good" and "the status quo is not good enough for Britain."

    He pledged to explore closer ties with the bloc at a UK-EU summit later this year at the Labour Party conference last month.

    Addressing the Commons, Burnham is expected to say that a new deal with the EU could help tackle illegal immigration and boost economic growth.

    Last month, Burnham told the BBC it was "possible" a future Labour election manifesto could promise a new in-out referendum on the EU.

    Speaking at her party conference last week, the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said it was "a terrible idea" to "reopen the Brexit debate."

  7. Burnham to make statement in Parliament as Commons returns from recess

    Andy Burnham looks past the camera, wearing black-rimmed glasses, a coat, shirt and tiePA Media

    Andy Burnham will give a speech to MPs today

    MPs are returning to Parliament today after a nearly month-long break for party conference season.

    Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to make a statement, where he is expected to say it would be a "dereliction of duty" to turn down a closer relationship with the European Union.

    Burnham pledged at Labour's conference last month to explore closer ties with the EU.

    Burnham is also expected to say that a new deal with the EU could help tackle illegal immigration and boost economic growth.

    He will claim that if he could secure that then "the vast majority of the public would expect us to take it".

    We'll be following all the action in this page - stick with us.