Labour MPs warn on Burnham's EU push - as Europhile politicians rush to defend free movement and paying into Brussels coffers

Andy Burnham has received a stark warning from one of his own MPs over reopening Brexit wars. 

The PM talked up his hopes for closer ties with the EU in a Commons statement yesterday, saying the current terms are 'not good enough' and would be addressed at a summit next month.

After recently refusing to rule out the next Labour manifesto committing to rejoin, Mr Burnham said he also wanted a 'serious dialogue about the different options for our relationship in the long term'. 

Europhile politicians voiced enthusiasm during a Parliamentary debate last night, arguing that accepting free movement and contributing to Brussels budgets would be worthwhile.  

But some Labour MPs have voiced concerns at the prospect of making such concessions, and going back into divisive debates about the UK's status. 

Appearing on the BBC's Newsnight, backbencher Jonathan Hinder cautioned that opening a 'full-blown debate' like the 2016 referendum would 'not be good at all'. 

'A lot of my constituents and constituents of many other MPs in areas of the country like mine think that Westminster treat them with contempt,' the Pendle and Clitheroe MP said.

'If Westminster went back and said you know what, we're going to relaunch that because, you're wrong.

'It would not be good for our politics. It would not be good at all.

'I think we know that most of Westminster did not want this to happen, and they were very surprised when this wake up call came from the population.

'And the reality is I don't feel like we've heeded that call still now.

'We're ten years on and those same people are still pulling the lever that marks ''listen to us, listen to us out in the country''.

'There is no way this would be good for our politics if we reopened it.'

Mr Hinder said it was a 'very different question' whether Brexit had been a success, pointing out that immigration from the EU had fallen even if inflows from elsewhere had risen.

He argued that pursuing Keir Starmer's agenda of trying to get a better deal was right, but highlighted the need to stick to manifesto 'red lines' against rejoining the customs union and single market.

Mr Hinder said: 'When we talk about the possibility of dropping those red lines then you get into free movement, you get into the customs union - so not having your own trade policy - you get into tens of billions of pounds a year being sent to the EU... 

'That's what rejoining means, not to mention the euro and Schengen, which as you say we had opt outs out of because of our special status that we had inside the EU.

'None of that is going to happen... so I think geopolitically it makes sense for us, when we've got what's going on in America going on, to say we want to be close to France and Germany and our other European allies. But the EU, that's a different thing.

'The institutions of the EU are a different thing.'

Mr Hinder said it would be impossible for the UK to go back into the EU without a referendum, adding that he believed if one was held the pro camp would lose. 'I don't think it would be close,' he added.

Separately, Labour MP for Hartlepool Jonathan Brash told Times Radio this morning that reentering the EU without a referendum was a 'non-starter'. 

'And given the level of political and, I would argue, social damage that that referendum did, I don't think it's worth going down that route again,' he added. 

In his Commons statement last night, Mr Burnham said it would be a 'dereliction of duty' not to seek deeper partnership with the EU.

'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 deals on easing trade friction on food and drink and a 'youth experience scheme' were on the table at a summit with the EU on November 20.

That has been branded a 'youth free movement' arrangement by critics. 

Labour MPs urged Mr Burnham to rule out a return to free movement rules last night, with Mr Burnham insisting he will stick to the manifesto 'red lines' ruling out joining the customs union or single market.

Mr Hinder called on the PM to declare free movement will not return while he is in No10, while Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn swiped that he was 'dancing around' the issue.

Alongside the discussions in the main Commons chamber, there was a debate on rejoining the EU in Westminster Hall last night - triggered by a public petition. 

Opening the exchanges, Labour MP Tony Vaughan said: 'We cannot, as a country, afford to keep taking small steps away from the disastrous Brexit settlement that we have now. 

'Instead, we should be looking at all the options for fundamentally refreshing our relationship with Europe, which I believe is strongly in the interests of British people, and the Prime Minister is absolutely right to be calling for a more ambitious approach.' 

The Labour MP for Manchester Rusholme, Afzal Khan, said: 'Opportunities that the EU offered, such as the ability to live, work and learn alongside our friends in Europe, are now gone, and Brexit's devastating economic impact has been felt mostly by young people.' 

Deirdre Costigan, Labour MP for Ealing Southall, said: 'Many of my constituents voted to leave the EU because they were bombarded with lies, from the mythical £350million a week for the NHS that never appeared to the lie that immigration would come down when it actually trebled.' 

Labour's Ben Coleman, who represents Chelsea and Fulham, dismissed worries that there would be a 'considerable cost of rejoining the EU'. 

'A chunk of that money will come straight back to farmers, regions and our scientists,' he said.

'In addition, the boost to trade - despite what is being claimed about GDP growing internationally - would bring in billions more in tax for our NHS, our police, our schools and our defence. 

'Those are all the things that we need to spend money on, but we in Labour found the cupboard was bare when we came in after 10 or 12 years of Tory misrule.

'The return would comfortably outweigh the investment.'

Mr Coleman also played down concerns about bringing back free movement rules. 

'Some worry that free movement means that anybody could come here, stay and claim benefits - well, it does not,' he said.

'In the past, we applied too lightly the rules that say it does not. Belgium and Spain insist on the rules, and so can we if we rejoin. 

'Some worry about sovereignty. Well, our exporters have to follow EU rules, but we have no say in setting them. 

'Membership would give us a seat and a vote - that is more control, not less.' 

Lib Dem MP Paul Kohler said: 'I urge the Prime Minister to go to the forthcoming EU summit with a plan to not only agree a youth mobility scheme but begin negotiating a growth and defence partnership, a customs union and the terms under which we might join the single market. 

'The negotiations will not be easy, but the UK has much to offer and even more to gain. 

'Let us proclaim loudly that the aim of this re-engagement is to one day, in my lifetime, become full and active members of the EU once more.'