The prime minister in waiting, Andy Burnham, has been named by Express readers as the Labour politician who is the “biggest threat to Brexit”. The former Greater Manchester mayor returned to Westminster earlier this week with much fanfare after cruising to victory in the Makerfield byelection.
The so-called King of the North’s journey back down south was broadcast live by news channels on Monday, just one day before the 10th anniversary of the EU referendum. Brexiteers have warned that Mr Burnham would pose a "seismic threat" to Brexit if he were, as expected, to become Prime Minister. And it seems Express readers agree.
In a poll asking which politician is the biggest threat to Brexit, 1,386 (61% of the 2,268 surveyed) selected Mr Burnham.
In contrast, just 87 (less than 4%) voted for former health secretary and one-time leadership hopeful Wes Streeting.
Almost a quarter (548) of those polled answered Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, placing him second behind Mr Burnham.
Meanwhile, former deputy PM Angela Rayner received 77 votes (around 3%) and the incumbent Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer — despite his EU reset push — received 170 votes (7.5%).
One Express reader who took part in the poll commented: “They’re all two-faced; what they say and what they do are never on the same page.”
Another wrote: "1 option missing. All of them."
As recently as last year, Mr Burnham declared he wanted Britain to rejoin the EU.
He has repeatedly refused to answer questions about his Brexit position when asked by the Express.
However, Mr Burnham dramatically rowed back his pro-EU stance during the campaign for Makerfield, where 66% of residents voted to leave the EU. He insisted he respected the referendum result.
Mr Burnham has been offered Government briefings to prepare for power after Sir Keir authorised Civil Service access talks.
The pair reportedly had a “frosty” face-to-face meeting on Tuesday — the first since Mr Burnham returned to Westminster.
Sir Keir has pledged a “smooth transition" of power following his resignation, which he announced in an emotional speech outside Number 10 on Monday.