David Cameron has been criticised after saying the UK should not rejoin the European Union.
The former Conservative prime minister – who was forced to quit following the 2016 Brexit referendum – said the government should instead focus on being “the best friend, best neighbour, best partner” to Brussels.
Andy Burnham has spoken extensively about his desire to build closer ties between Britain and the EU, and has not ruled out the possibility of Brexit eventually being overturned.
But speaking to Bloomberg, Cameron said: “Instead of launching an argument about rejoining, which I think would be a very long and painful argument, and who knows where it would end up.
“Instead of that, focus on how do we be the best friend, best neighbour, best partner.”
Cameron’s final year in office was dominated by his attempts to negotiate a new deal with the EU on the terms of the UK’s membership.
He then put that deal to the country in a referendum and recommended that voters back remaining in the bloc.
But the Leave campaign won by 52% to 48% after a bitter campaign, and Cameron quit No.10 the following day.
The former PM said: “I fought the campaign to stay in on an amended basis, and I obviously wanted to win that campaign. I was desperately disappointed that we lost that campaign.
“But I’m a democrat, a believer in democracy. We voted to leave, and I think the right thing now is to try and become not just neighbours, partners, and friends of the EU, but the best friends, the best neighbours, the best partners.
“And I think we can make that work.”
Opinion polls suggest that support for rejoining the EU is growing as voters rech the conclusion that Brexit has been bad for the country.
Social media users reacted angrily to Cameron’s comments, suggesting he is the last person Burnham should listen to for advice on how to handle the trade bloc.
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