John Healey seemed to be in disagreement with Andy Burnham over the impact leaving the EU has had on the UK.
The prime minister said this week that Britain’s decision to leave the EU had weakened the economy and the country’s control over immigration.
Burnham also suggested it was “possible” Labour’s next election manifesto might including another referendum on rejoining the bloc.
He then sparked a major row when he revealed he wants an “honest discussion” about the UK possibly readopting freedom of movement at the weekend.
It comes as Burnham looks to tighten UK-EU ties in summit with the UK’s neighbours next month with new deals on food and drink, along with a young mobility scheme.
But the chancellor appeared to take a different approach shortly after unveiling his maiden Budget, telling the media: “We had a referendum. We’re out of the European Union.”
He also denied that the country’s growth would be stronger if the UK was still in the bloc or in the single market when asked on LBC.
Healey said: “Well I don’t actually accept that. I mean, it’s certain Brexit has certainly hit our level of growth.
“It’s certainly hit our level of trade. But we had a referendum. We’re out of the European Union. The challenge for me now is how do we make the best of an economy which this year has proved remarkably resilient. It’s confounded the forecasters.”
LBC’s Nick Ferrari then asked if access to the EU single market could increase growth by 5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The chancellor said: “Well, that’s part of a bigger conversation that the prime minister wants the country to have because he recognises – and everybody, many other people do – that our Brexit deal was not a good one.
“It’s not been good for Britain over the last decade. But my job now, is to make sure, when you’re talking about growth, is to try and reinforce that resilience in the British economy.”
The prime minister said this week that while he would not “move ahead of the public” or “dictate” his own beliefs, he said Brexit had not “played out as people said it would at the time.
He also said the UK could go “all the way” and rejoin the bloc – but that the British public would still “be the boss”.
At prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch asked Burnham why he had chosen to revive the Brexit debate just before the Budget.
He replied: “There is no confusion at all.
“The government has a collectively agreed position, which I have set out today.
“It is entirely consistent with everything that I’ve said, including in the by-election.”
He added: “I am doing what I can do to get a better deal for Britain. I’m getting a better deal for Britain.”
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