ANDY Burnham has been accused of a “total betrayal” after paving the way for a return to freedom of movement with the EU.
The Prime Minister said he wanted an “honest discussion” about ties to the EU as part of a new relationship with the bloc.
Mr Burnham has already said he wants to consider various options for Britain’s links to Brussels even including re-joining the EU.
Immigration was one of the key issues during the vote in 2016 with Leave voters demanding the government “take back control”.
leader said: “This is a total betrayal of Brexit Britain and his Makerfield pitch.
“He is also deluded to say immigration was different when we were members of the EU.
“We will fight this dishonesty.”
But the PM acknowledged that freedom of movement “had very significant challenges associated with it and I spoke about them in my previous time in “.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Mr Burnham said: “But at the same time, it was a type of immigration that perhaps wasn’t as difficult (as now).
“Revolving door migration where people would come and then go back is different.
“The balance of migration has changed, hasn’t it, since then? I think we’ve just got to have an honest discussion about those things.”
He added: “It was generally younger people, not always, but spending a few years, then going back.
“And obviously the ease of that worked for British people as well.”
Shadow Home Secretary said: “Andy Burnham knows full well that a return to EU free movement would mean handing back control of our borders and allowing uncontrolled migration from across Europe.
“The British people voted to end free movement, and there can be no return to it.
“We need an immigration system – like the Conservatives’ BORDERS plan – that is built in Britain, for Britain, not one that gives Brussels the power to decide who can live in our country.”
