Scottish Labour leader risks defying Burnham as he backs rejoining the EU - amid Cabinet tensions over cosying up to Brussels

The Scottish Labour leader has called for the UK to rejoin the EU - despite a call for discipline from Andy Burnham.Michael Marra said restoring ties with Brussels should be a 'long-term objective' for the whole country.He acknowledged that was going beyond the position of the Westminster Government, where Mr Burnham has only floated reversing Brexit as a possibility.In a letter to the Cabinet recently, Mr Burnham warned ministers against publicly advocating any specific outcome with the EU after a 'reset' summit next week.That was designed to minimise tensions, after hints that some senior figures were alarmed at the prospect of bringing back free movement. The PM gathered his top team for a political discussion this morning ahead of the summit in Brussels on November 20. He is expected to agree to pay into EU coffers, a youth 'mobility' scheme and to take the bloc's rules in return for better trade terms. Michael Marra (file picture) said restoring ties with the Brussels should be a 'long-term objective' for the whole country The PM gathered his top team for a political discussion this morning ahead of a summit in Brussels with Ursula von der Leyen on November 20Scottish Labour is part of the UK-wide party, but operates independently in Scotland. Speaking in Edinburgh, Mr Marra acknowledged there would be 'serious questions' over issues such as currency and borders before the UK could go back into the EU.But the Labour MSP insisted that 'difficult is not the same as impossible'.Mr Marra said that while Mr Burnham was seeking closer terms, it was 'in Scotland's interests, and in the interests of the whole United Kingdom, for the UK to rejoin the European Union'.He said 'breaking down barriers' with European nations would 'help Scottish businesses grow, attract investment and create better-paid jobs'.It could also 'help bring down prices and generate more money for our public services', he added.Mr Marra accepted that rejoining the EU 'won't solve every problem we have', adding: 'If we're serious about growth, we cannot keep ignoring the opportunity on our doorstep.''The UK should rejoin the European Union and Scottish Labour will work to make that happen,' he said.Mr Marra added: 'I don't pretend it will happen quickly. But I believe we should set it as a long-term objective for the UK and that Scotland should lead the change in making that happen.'Noting that the PM has called for a 'discussion about what Britain's long-term relationship with Europe should be', Mr Marra said he was 'putting Scottish Labour in the vanguard of that conversation'.He said: 'Rejoining the EU is not the current policy of the UK Labour Party and not the current policy of the UK Government.'The UK Labour Party isn't there yet. This is a distinct Scottish Labour position.'In making the case for going back into Europe, Mr Marra said he was 'setting out what I think the best destination is for Scotland and the whole of the UK'.He said he would 'seek to make that positive case and build that consensus' – adding that he has written to the PM 'making the case that rejoining be considered as part of Britain's longer-term European debate'.The PM's call for an 'honest discussion' about a return to freedom of movement has prompted a frenzy in Labour circles.Confusion mounted after he was pressed on how any change in Labour's manifesto red lines – ruling out rejoining the customs union and single market – would be put to voters.Mr Burnham initially said there would be no shift within this Parliament and signalled that he could fight the next general election on a promise to take the UK back into the bloc.But in another interview, he said 'no' when asked whether he would allow the UK to reinstate EU freedom of movement without a referendum.That forced Downing Street to clarify that he was 'not leaning either way' on how to move forward or whether there needed to be a national vote.In his letter to the Cabinet, Mr Burnham said: 'In the period beyond the summit, government policy will be to explore options for the long-term relationship with the EU for consideration in the next Parliament. In a letter to the Cabinet recently, Mr Burnham warned ministers against publicly advocating any specific outcome with the EU after the 'reset' summit next week'At the end of this process, we will set out to the country the respective merits and drawbacks of the various options.'It is important that we remain aligned and disciplined as a Government in our messaging throughout this period.'It will not be appropriate for ministers individually to advocate for specific options or opine on the likely outcome of the process.'