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Andy Burnham has U-turned on his proposal to drag Britain back into the European Union - but do you trust him? The Greater Manchester Mayor is bidding to win the Makerfield by-election in a constituency that voted 65% in favour of Leave. Mr Burnham told the Guardian last year: "Long term, I'm going to say it, I want to rejoin. I hope in my lifetime I see this country rejoin the European Union."

But this week he said he respected the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum - and was not calling on the UK to rejoin after all. So what do you think? Do you trust Andy Burnham on Brexit? Vote in our poll and join the debate in the comments section.

Analysis by Electoral Calculus suggests the seat voted 65% in favour of Leave - raising serious questions about whether Mr Burnham's pro-EU views align with the voters he hopes to represent.

The so-called "King of the North" is widely seen as the frontrunner to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader, with the Makerfield by-election seen as his route back into Parliament following the resignation of MP Josh Simons.

Speaking at an event in Leeds on Monday, the Labour leadership hopeful said: "My view is that Brexit has been damaging, but I also believe the last thing we should do right now is re-run those arguments. Britain will be stuck in a permanent rut if we're just constantly arguing and people are pulling away from each other."

Mr Burnham, the so-called "King of the North" who hopes winning Makerfield will be his route back into Parliament, went on to U-turn on his earlier pledge to drag the UK back to Brussels.

He said: "I am not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU. I respect the decision that was made at the referendum, and it is going to undermine everything I have said about strengthening democracy if we don't respect that vote."

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice savaged the climbdown, branding Mr Burnham "King of the U-turn" and demanding: "Will the real Burnham stand up please?"

The Conservatives have warned of a "Burnham penalty" claiming his ambitions are already costing British families £300 each as markets react nervously to the prospect of a new Labour Prime Minister with plans to borrow more and raise taxes.