Healey says UK will not rejoin EU in his lifetime, exposing rift with Burnham
Chancellor John Healey's remark that Britain will not rejoin the European Union in his lifetime has exposed a split with Prime Minister Andy Burnham ahead of a critical summit next month.
Chancellor John Healey has suggested he does not expect the United Kingdom to rejoin the European Union in his lifetime, a remark that has exposed a rift with Prime Minister Andy Burnham over Britain's relationship with Europe. The comment, which sits uneasily with the direction the prime minister has signalled on European ties, comes shortly before a critical summit next month.
The Independent's editorial line argues that the chancellor's words are unhelpful at a delicate moment. It describes the remark as evidence of a divide between the chancellor and the prime minister, one that could create difficulties for the government's wider agenda. With the summit approaching, the editorial contends that such public signals are no way to bring Britain closer to Europe, and that a government seeking closer ties needs to speak with a single voice.
The episode highlights how European policy remains a fault line within the government. Senior ministers who speak openly about the long-term prospects for EU membership can shape expectations at home and abroad. The timing has drawn attention because the government is preparing for talks that will test its ability to present a united position, and because the chancellor's comments land at a moment when the prime minister is trying to set the tone for Britain's approach to the continent.
Burnham's office has also been dealing with a range of domestic pressures. The prime minister has pushed for UK-wide devolution, meeting leaders from Scotland and Wales and representatives from Northern Ireland to discuss handing regions more powers to control employment support. In the same period he warned that too many young Scots are out of work, underlining the scale of the challenge facing devolved administrations as well as Westminster.
Homelessness in the capital is another pressing concern. Burnham has acknowledged a huge challenge as rough sleeping numbers in London rise, and has vowed to offer help to every single person on the streets by Christmas. Those pledges are a reminder that the government's domestic agenda is crowded, and that any public disagreement over Europe risks drawing attention away from the commitments it has made at home.
Whether the chancellor's remarks will have lasting consequences remains to be seen. What is clear from the editorial is that the prime minister and chancellor are not presenting a single line on Europe, and that the summit next month will put that difference under scrutiny.
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