Burnham dodges the EU question

Andy Burnham was evasive when MPs asked whether his planned renegotiation of Britain's EU relationship would lead to Labour rejoining after the next election.

Kinnock breaks ranks in Italian interview

Neil Kinnock, the former Labour leader and one of Burnham's named political mentors, told la Repubblica that Burnham does want to take the UK back into the EU.

Kinnock: his objective is to join again

Kinnock said Burnham's commitment to changing the relationship is authentic and his objective is obvious: to join the EU again.

“Andy makes the declaration of his determination to change the relationship, and it's obvious that his objective is to join again.”

Kinnock defends Burnham's campaign silence

When asked why Burnham played down EU rejoining during the Makerfield byelection, Kinnock said the debate was simply being deferred, not abandoned.

“That's tomorrow's debate. Simply because the byelection wasn't about Europe. It was about winning Makerfield in order to enable him to become leader of the party.”

Kinnock praises Burnham's pragmatism

Kinnock said Burnham's approach is common sense, not left or right, and compared his state engagement to Winston Churchill's work in the nineteen fifties.

“It's common sense. It's not left and right. Andy's view of the engagement of the state is about what Winston Churchill did in the 1950s.”

No 10 expected to clarify Burnham's position

A lobby briefing is scheduled for noon. Downing Street is expected to clarify that its understanding of Burnham's EU position differs from Kinnock's interpretation.