Andy Burnham told to enter 'anti-Brexit coalition' as Labour warned rejoining EU could unlock election victory

Several major polls suggest Labour could emerge as the largest party at the next general election but may need support from the Liberal Democrats and Greens.

That could create the prospect of an alliance between pro-EU parties if the numbers seen in the latest projections were repeated at an election.

YouGov's bombshell MRP poll found Labour would win 241 seats.

This would leave Mr Burnham 85 seats short of a majority.

However, a coalition with the pro-EU Liberal Democrats, SNP and Plaid Cymru would get over the 326 seat threshold.

Anti-Brexit campaigners have seized on the findings.

They urge Mr Burnham to put rejoining the EU at the heart of Labour’s next manifesto.

Mr Burnham has refused to rule out a pledge to rejoin the EU.

The developments could put Brexit at the centre of the next general election campaign, especially if Labour seeks support from other pro-EU parties.

Sir Tony Blair has also called for a plan to return within a decade.

He warned against an "inching towards" Europe as a result of public opinion in a slight to Sir Keir Starmer's premiership.

The report argues Britain rejoining a "significantly reformed" EU could form a superpower that could challenge the US and China.

It reads: "Britain should play a leading role in shaping a more powerful Europe. The necessary reforms have already been identified – not least in Mario Draghi’s report on EU competitiveness – but implementing them remains the challenge.

"For Britain to be part of that effort, it must show political commitment to Europe. This can be achieved by setting a clear, public objective to rejoin the EU within a decade – subject to internal EU reform."