Andy Burnham given major Brexit U-turn warning — ‘have you thought about this?’.TA
The Prime Minister has said a second EU referendum could be included in Labour’s next manifesto.
Andy Burnham has not ruled out reversing Brexit (Image: Getty)
Britain’s re-entry into the European Union comes with a major risk, a major finance boss has warned. The Prime Minister has not ruled out a second EU referndum and a reversal of Brexit, which he thinks has “done more harm than good”. Extra paperwork and checks and the delays at the EU border have hurt UK businesses, Nigel Green, the CEO of deVere Group said. He added that a closer relationship with Europe would be good for the economy. “There’s no question about it,” Mr Green said. “But the same changes that make it easier to do business with Europe also make it easier for people, and their money, to move there.
“Investors need to factor in both.” If the Government does not change its stance on taxation, entrepreneurs and investors would be tempted to leave Blighty, and this would be easier for them to do inside the EU, Mr Green suggested. “We’re already seeing entrepreneurs, senior executives and internationally mobile families seriously considering a move abroad as taxes go up,” he said.
“It comes up in our conversations every week. If moving around Europe becomes easier, that’s one less obstacle for them. Closer ties with the EU won’t solve problems of the UK’s own making.
“If the tax burden keeps rising and the state keeps growing, we risk losing the entrepreneurs and investors the economy depends on, and we won’t attract new ones to replace them. Wealthy people and business owners have more choice than ever about where they live and invest, and they’ll go wherever they feel most valued.”
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“Alongside the EU reset, the Government needs to get domestic policy right. This means a competitive tax system, a planning process that doesn’t hold projects up for years, and enough stability for businesses to plan ahead with confidence.
“The UK has huge strengths in its talent, its legal system, and its capital markets. Get both of these right and it can be one of the most attractive places in Europe for capital. Get only one right and it simply becomes easier for people to leave.”
deVere Group CEO, Nigel Green (Image: Getty)
Mr Burnham told MPs yesterday that it would be a “dereliction of duty” not to seek deeper partnership with the EU but said the British public will be the “boss” at every stage of renegotiating the relationship. “If we are serious about promoting growth, controlling immigration, upholding our values and security, it is a conversation we must have,” he said.
“Sticking with the status quo is not good enough for Britain. Worse, it would be a major dereliction of duty to turn away.” He added: “Our immediate priority is securing a successful outcome at the summit, and I believe we should then set up a serious dialogue about the different options for our relationship in the long term.
“At every stage, the British public will be the boss, and I am clear that public opinion currently supports a pragmatic approach like the one I am suggesting.” Mr Burnham said the upcoming talks present “an opportunity to make progress on two crucial issues: boosting UK growth and controlling illegal immigration”.
He added: “The summit will also be an opportunity to raise our concerns about Made in Europe and it is clear to me that there is an opportunity to make progress in all of these areas. Together, these deals will add the equivalent of over £10 billion per year to the UK economy by 2040, with the potential to add significantly more.”
A No. 10 source told PA: “Andy understands why some politicians don’t want to face up to the reality that Brexit has not delivered what they once promised. But it is time for a different conversation about what our long-term relationship should be. Sticking with the status quo and not working relentlessly to secure a good deal that boosts growth would be a major dereliction of duty.”
WW3 fears explode as Russia attacks and sinks ships inside NATO territory
Fury as suspected drone bombardment branded ‘completely unacceptable’
A ship sunk near Bulgaria (Image: X)
A suspected Russian drone attack hit two ships off the coast of Bulgaria in the Black Sea, sinking one of the vessels. Bulgaria’s prime minister, Rumen Radev, said the Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3 was sailing under the Maltese flag when it was hit by three drones some 18 nautical miles (20 miles) off the Bulgarian coast at around 1.30am (11.30pm BST) on Tuesday.
Its crew – seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis – were rescued and safely transported to the port of Varna after it was struck by three drones. Five crew members received medical assistance, but no one was seriously injured.
A second ship, the AZOV CONCORD, flying the flag of St Kitts and Nevis, was attacked about 17 nautical miles (19 miles) from the village of Krapets in north-eastern Bulgaria and sank. One sailor was rescued.
Mr Radev described the attacks as “absolutely unacceptable” and said that, although there was no “conclusive evidence” of Moscow’s involvement, he would summon Russian ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova for a meeting on Tuesday.
Mr Radev said: “Another attack on merchant ships in the immediate vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters is absolutely unacceptable. Our permanent representative to NATO and our permanent representative to the European Union have been notified. I am scheduled to speak with NATO secretary general Mark Rutte.
“We do not have solid and clear evidence to bring charges against any of the parties, but logic, as I have already stated, indicates that the result is in favour of the Russian Federation. Therefore, today I will summon ambassador Mitrofanova for a conversation.”
Russia launched massive aerial assaults on Ukraine overnight (Image: Getty)
Bulgaria has informed its representatives to NATO and the EU that it will seek international support to investigate the drone attacks and establish their country of origin, Mr Radev said. Sofia is also requesting assistance to strengthen air and maritime surveillance and improve its response capabilities.
Russia launched a massive overnight air assault on Ukraine, raising concerns about a potential threat to Polish territory and fuelling fears of a wider conflict. In response, Poland’s Government Centre for Security (RCB) issued an alert on X in the early hours of Tuesday, warning residents in the Lublin and Subcarpathian voivodeships.
The RCB said: “ATTENTION! Russian air attack on Ukrainian territory. The situation is being monitored. In the airspace of the Republic of Poland, Polish aviation is operating. Expect further communications. The RCB Alert has been sent to recipients in the Subcarpathian and Lublin voivodeships.”
Such attacks by Moscow could be intended to test NATO’s willingness to invoke Article 5, which states that an armed attack against a NATO ally is legally considered an attack against all 32 members of the alliance.
Russian strikes have been edging closer and closer to NATO territory, with Bulgaria being hit with a wave of incidents in its territorial waters.
On October 6, the crew of a merchant vessel went missing after two ships were struck in the Black Sea off the coast of NATO member Bulgaria – an incident Mr Radev described as a “gross violation of international law.”
One of the ships, the ALFA WATAN, sank, while the search for its 12 reported crew members was called off without success. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said a joint investigation with Bulgaria’s navy showed that Russia was behind the attack.
“The Ukrainian Defence Forces were conducting no operations in this part of the sea,” he said. Although Bulgaria does not border Russia or Ukraine, it occupies a strategic position on the Black Sea, home to major ports of both countries.
