Business chief urges Andy Burnham to prioritize repairing Brexit damage

Repairing the economic damage caused by Brexit should be the main priority for Prime Minister Andy Burnham, according to the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce. The Guardian reported that Shevaun Haviland welcomed the prime minister reconsidering Labour's red lines on membership with the European Union. [1]

Shevaun Haviland argued that Andy Burnham is correct to revisit those red lines because the current trading relationship with the European Union is bad for business. According to the Guardian, she welcomed reopening those political boundaries despite the uncertainty that the decision might cause. [1]

The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a referendum on 23 June 2016, with 51.8 percent of voters supporting the exit. Sovereignty, immigration, politics, and the economy were key factors behind the decision. John Healey currently serves as Chancellor of the Exchequer under Andy Burnham, having been appointed on 20 July 2026. [3][4]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Andy Burnham is seeking access to European Union criminal and migrant databases that the country lost after Brexit. Officials in Brussels have demanded financial fees and European Court of Justice oversight in exchange for database access ahead of an upcoming summit. [5]