Fresh fears Labour is planning to hold another EU referendum after minister hints at a 'much closer relationship'
By SAM MERRIMAN, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT and DAN HODGES, DAILY MAIL COLUMNIST
Published: | Updated:
Fresh fears that Labour plans to hold another EU referendum were sparked on Sunday night after a minister declared 'all options are on the table.'
Senior party figures privately believe that Labour is gearing up for a Rejoin campaign.
And on Sunday Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds did little to dispel worries of another divisive Brexit vote, as she hinted at a 'closer relationship' with the bloc.
Her comments came as Rachel Reeves, in her first major intervention since being ousted from No11 in July, said that Brexit had made the UK 'poorer, weaker and less secure'.
The former chancellor added that Britain's 'future lies in the EU'.
On Sunday, Government minister Ms Reynolds, who was asked if she wanted to see Britain rejoin the EU, said: 'I don't want to get ahead of the Prime Minister setting out those options, but I think all of those options are on the table.
'There are arguments for certainly a much closer relationship with the European Union that isn't as economically damaging.'
Her words came after Mr Burnham last weekend suggested a referendum would be needed to revive free movement within the EU, before Downing Street later said the public might not be given a vote on the issue after all.
Andy Burnham opened the door to reviving free movement with the EU without a referendum
And a major UK-EU summit looms later this month, at which the Prime Minister is planning to set out a series of options for a new relationship with Brussels.
They are expected to include membership of the single market and customs union, as well as fully rejoining the EU.
A concerted campaign from Labour Remainers to push the PM towards rejoining appeared to be in play ahead of the summit.
And in another move that has caused nervous speculation, Ms Reeves' former chief of staff Ben Nunn, who was also one of Sir Keir's most trusted aides during his time in opposition, was brought back into No10 as Mr Burnham's new EU adviser.
'It's pretty obvious why they're bringing him in,' one minister told the Mail. 'He's going to mastermind the Rejoin campaign.'
It comes as it emerged ministers are prepared to spend as much as £450million a year to give EU students discounted university fees.
READ MORE: DAN HODGES: Why I believe a second referendum really is now on the table
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