LABOUR’S campaign in the Makerfield by-election got off to a good start, didn’t it?

Wes Streeting said “Britain’s future lies with Europe and one day back in the EU”.

Andy Burnham’s supporters said those remarks were “unhelpful”. More like Machiavellian, to undermine Burnham.

Burnham himself said on Saturday that “in the long-term there’s a case for rejoining the EU”, but he wasn’t advocating that in his campaign.

Aoife Moore: You can’t always be everything to everyone, Mary Lou

Brian Feeney: The road back to Brussels runs through Dublin

All that was even before Burnham was selected as the candidate.

Nevertheless, Brexit is back on the agenda in British politics, though many would say it was never really off the agenda.

Streeting was right that Brexit was a “catastrophic mistake” and for some time now polls show most voters, including many who voted Leave, would support a return to the EU.

However, let’s not be concerned with the intricacies of British Labour Party politics.

It would be of enormous benefit to the north and to the whole of this island if Britain were to rejoin the EU. Incidentally, you’ll notice they all say “Britain”.

Don’t hold your breathe, though. Rejoining isn’t going to happen any time soon.

Guys like Streeting have a lot of misconceptions. First, the EU........

© The Irish News