Hatty Collier

EXC: Inside Andy Burnham’s strategy to reverse Brexit 💫 “He thinks the right thing to do is go back to the European Union. Whether that’s doable or not is another question. But I think the prevailing wind is with us so let’s see how far we can push the envelope,” an ally said 💫Burnham sees it as both an economic boon and a vote winner 💫Burnham’s overtures to the EU have been described by European diplomats variously as “a love letter,” “courageous,” a “bunch of flowers” and “divorcees getting back together”. 💫There is a sense of rewarding good behaviour from previously recalcitrant, sulky Brits. “We are now very keen to make the summit a success,” one European diplomat said of the Nov 20 meeting. 💫 Concerns grow over EU plans to delay a decision on tuition fees beyond the summit: "they could zing us afterwards" 💫Post-summit Burnham speech planned to set out next steps on Europe, designed to dovetail with the 10-year-plan 💫Former Cabinet minister warns Burnham EU will only take the UK seriously about re-joining after a referendum, not if measures are only in Labour's manifesto 💫 Concerns the EU could apply a rejoining levy on the UK as payment for messing them about 💫Cabinet dismay at re-opening debate 💫BUT @robfordmancs says there is danger in being overly frightened of a debate on rejoining. 💫“Brexit is like a pufferfish in a David Attenborough nature documentary.  It puffs itself up to appear more frightening than it is. The Leave-supporting media the inflation mechanism: any mention of it and they freak out and shout betrayal. But Labour MPs and Cabinet ministers who take the pufferfish seriously are in danger of giving it more credibility than it deserves,” he said. Read the full piece here: inews.co.uk/news/politics/bu…

Pleased to be shortlisted for scoop of the year in the Press Gazette British Journalism Awards alongside @Richard_AHolmes