Burnham reignites Britain's divisive Brexit debate with his push for closer EU ties

LONDON -- For a decade, British governments have observed a cardinal rule: Don’t mention Brexit. In particular, don’t suggest that voters’ 2016 decision to leave the European Union should be reversed.Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who marked his 100th day in office on Tuesday, has broken that code of silence and reignited a debate that bitterly divided the country. He says Brexit has been a failure and the U.K. should seek a much closer relationship with the EU, with options up to and including rejoining the 27-nation bloc.“I am positive about closer ties with Europe and I’m not hiding that,” Burnham told the Sunday Times. “I think it will add to British GDP. I think it will give us stronger control of migration. I want to make those arguments.”In recent interviews, Burnham has said the country should have an “evidence-based debate” about the consequences of Brexit. He gave the example of immigration. Supporters of Brexit argued that it would give the country control over its borders by ending the right of EU citizens to live and work in the U.K., and of British nationals to settle across the bloc.While Britain now sets its own immigration policy, Burnham said leaving the bloc had ma...