How Mocking the Mob Backfires: The Dark Side of Mocking Potential PMs

Labour’s internal Brexit divisions have reignited after Culture Secretary Wes Streeting reignited calls for the UK to rejoin the European Union, sparking accusations from senior colleagues that he is deliberately provoking a “new Brexit war” ahead of a critical by-election and potential leadership contest.

The row centers on Streeting’s public remarks at the Progress conference in London on Saturday, where he described Brexit as a “catastrophic mistake” and urged Labour to pursue a “new special relationship” with the EU, including the possibility of eventual rejoining. His intervention has forced Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor and unofficial leadership challenger, to clarify his own stance on the issue, which had previously been more explicit in favor of rejoining the bloc.

Lisa Nandy, a cabinet minister and Burnham ally, condemned Streeting’s proposal as “odd” and warned that his comments risked handing Reform UK a political advantage in the upcoming Makerfield by-election, a constituency that voted Leave in 2016. Nandy, who campaigned alongside Burnham in Makerfield on Saturday, framed Streeting’s remarks as a return to the divisive Brexit debates of the past, saying his call to “go back” to 2015 was “like saying life was fine then, we just need to go back there.”

Streeting’s intervention has also placed pressure on Burnham, who last year told the Labour Party conference that he hoped the UK would rejoin the EU “in my lifetime,” but has since signaled he will soften his stance to avoid alienating voters in the Leave-leaning by-election. When asked by ITV News whether he still supported rejoining the EU, Burnham replied: “I’ve said in the long-term there is a case for that, but I’m not advocating that in this by-election.”

Burnham’s allies have privately warned that Labour faces an “existential crisis” if he fails to win the Makerfield seat, which would effectively end his hopes of formally challenging Keir Starmer for the leadership. The by-election, scheduled for May 30, is seen as a litmus test for Labour’s ability to appeal to both Remain and Leave voters ahead of a potential leadership contest.

Reform UK, which has capitalized on anti-immigration and anti-EU sentiment, is expected to seize on Streeting’s comments as evidence of Labour’s perceived inconsistency on Brexit. The party has already framed the Makerfield by-election as a referendum on immigration and EU policy, with its candidates emphasizing the need for a “hard Brexit” approach.

The renewed focus on Brexit comes as Labour struggles to define its economic and political priorities ahead of a general election expected within the next two years. Streeting’s remarks have reignited debates over whether the party should prioritize rejoining the EU as part of its long-term strategy, despite the political risks in the short term.

For now, Burnham appears to be walking a tightrope, balancing his long-term ambition to challenge Starmer with the immediate need to secure a victory in Makerfield. His decision to avoid advocating for EU rejoin in the by-election suggests he is prioritizing electoral pragmatism over ideological consistency—a strategy that could further complicate Labour’s internal divisions.

As the row intensifies, the question remains whether Streeting’s intervention will force a broader reckoning within Labour over its stance on Brexit, or whether the party will continue to avoid the issue until the political moment is more favorable.