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The Brexit vote of 2016 was a message to the establishment from ordinary, decent British people who had simply had enough. They were tired of being ignored, taken for granted and disrespected by a political class willing to use them for its own political gain. Over the weekend, we saw two Labour leadership contenders once again bowing down at the altar of the European project.

One was Wes Streeting, who spent the week insisting he could secure the nominations needed to become leader, only to clearly fall short. And then there was Andy Burnham, who confirmed he wants to rejoin the EU in future... but said he won't be advocating for it in the upcoming Makerfield by-election.

For months, it has been clear that Keir Starmer has been attempting to sleepwalk us back towards the European institutions. But this weekend provided the clearest signal yet that Labour is preparing to completely betray Brexit voters.

The upcoming contest in Makerfield will become a flashpoint in that battle. It is increasingly obvious that Andy Burnham wants to say one thing to Labour voters in the constituency while telling Labour MPs something entirely different as he positions himself for power. Voters are not fools and they deserve honesty from open-borders Burnham.

My party will make sure the people of Makerfield know exactly where Burnham stands. This is a constituency that voted 65% to Leave and where Reform secured 50% in the local elections less than two weeks ago. People there understand what is at stake.

Yet Labour figures still behave as though the result can be gradually diluted, softened or quietly reversed without consequence.

Andy Burnham's position raises serious questions. At a time when millions of voters are demanding control of our borders, he continues to advocate rejoining a European project built around the free movement of 500 million people.

Well, good luck selling that message on the doorsteps. The political establishment ignored the public once before. If Labour continues down this path, it risks learning the same lesson all over again.