Farage declares Reform election campaign open after Burnham reopens Brexit debate

Nigel Farage declared Reform UK’s general election campaign open, telling a Doncaster rally on Thursday that Andy Burnham had handed him “the biggest boost in my career I’ve ever, ever had” by reopening the Brexit debate. The Times

“If Andy Burnham, the king of the north, wants a fight, in Doncaster and the red wall with me, on rejoining the European Union, then bring it on, I say,” he said. He accused Burnham of breaking a pledge — his claim — not to rejoin the single market, customs union or EU. Burnham said he wanted to examine the “pros and cons” of all options for Britain’s ties with Brussels. The Times

Before the rally, Farage told the Guardian he dismissed polls showing up to 59 per cent favour rejoining the EU: “Of course they do, until you tell them it’ll cost 25bn quid a year… until he tells them it will mean actually having to recommit to joining the euro.” He called it “a very big political mistake” that had “opened up a huge flank” to Reform across the red wall. the Guardian

“Today is when our general election campaign starts,” he said, vowing to campaign every week until the election — “whether it comes in November, December, next spring, 2028, 2029”. He expects it next spring, though Burnham says he will not call one early; the Sun reported Reform overtook Labour during the conference, a point ahead on 25 per cent in a YouGov poll. The Times The Sun

Sources

• The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/nigel-farage-andy-burnham-brexit-boost-cv7sq806s
• The Guardian (via NewsBeep mirror of the Guardian piece): https://www.newsbeep.com/753785/
• The Sun: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40557465/andy-burnham-brexit-error-farage-career-boost/