Lisa Nandy urges government to avoid binary Brexit debates
The culture secretary argues that while the UK should not repeat 2016 arguments, the current trade deal has failed to match initial promises to voters.
By Noor Graham ·
Cabinet divisions over the UK's future relationship with the European Union are deepening as Prime Minister Andy Burnham pushes for a formal review of Brexit outcomes. This internal friction emerged in interviews conducted this week, where senior Labour figures clarified their positions on rejoining the bloc versus enhancing current ties.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated she wants to prevent a return to binary debates over leaving or staying. Speaking to the BBC, she noted that the public has been let down by the implementation of the 2016 referendum result over the last decade. Nandy, whose Wigan constituency voted heavily for leave in 2016, suggested that the option to fully rejoin may no longer be available. She described the current situation as one involving trade-offs that require a national conversation.
Nandy acknowledged that the deal secured in 2016 was not what was promised to the public. She indicated that Brexit will remain a central theme in the next election campaign. Her comments align with concerns shared by other cabinet members who fear that reopening the debate could advantage Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. The culture secretary defended the government's plan to expand the Erasmus scheme, which she linked to Remembrance Sunday, by arguing it honors the legacy of veterans who served in conflicts across the continent.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing for the European Political Community summit in Dublin on Thursday. Downing Street officials said he will use the meeting to advance Labour's reset deal and meet European leaders for the first time. EU counterparts expect Burnham to outline ambitions for deeper integration after the next election. He has previously announced his intention to move beyond Labour's traditional red lines on EU membership.
A dedicated Brexit reset meeting is scheduled for November 20 in Brussels. Officials expect to confirm agreements on agriculture, food standards, emissions trading, and youth experience visas. The agenda may also include another bid to join the EU's 150 billion euro Safe defence fund, alongside discussions on law enforcement, borders, and visas for touring artists. Burnham told the Sunday Mirror that the summit is not the end of the UK's ambition for closer cooperation.
Senior government figures say Burnham aims to secure a mandate for negotiations in the next Labour manifesto. Any future referendum would be confirmatory rather than consultative. One official noted that asking voters to decide on an undefined plan, as happened in 2016, was a mistake. However, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood remain cautious about pushing for full reintegration.
Michel Barnier, the EU's former chief Brexit negotiator, warned against selective market access. He told the BBC that the UK cannot pick and choose among the four freedoms, such as freedom of movement, without accepting the others. Conservative Party chair Kevin Hollinrake criticized Nandy for using Remembrance Sunday to make an EU pitch, stating that veterans did not fight for a student exchange scheme. Nandy responded by noting that the opposition is the only party actively discussing Brexit and the EU.
