Neil Kinnock, who Andy Burnham has named as one of his three political mentors, said in an interview with the Italian newspaper la Repubblica that he believes Burnham does want to, and will, take the UK back into the EU - the question at the heart of andy burnham eu rejoining. Asked directly by MPs about whether renegotiation with Brussels should end in rejoining, Burnham has avoided committing.

Kinnock: 'His commitment is authentic'

Kinnock left no room for doubt when the question was put to him. Asked whether Burnham would be the person to take the UK back into the EU, he replied: "Yes, sure, sure, sure. His commitment is authentic."

He went further, saying Burnham's declared aim of changing the relationship with Brussels points to membership. "Andy makes the declaration of his determination to change the relationship, and it's obvious that his objective is to join again," Kinnock told the paper.

The interview was conducted by Antonello Guerrera, who asked Kinnock how he felt about a successor taking Labour to the left.

Why Europe stayed quiet in Makerfield

Kinnock was also asked why Europe barely featured when Burnham campaigned in the Makerfield byelection. He said the silence was a matter of timing, not conviction. "In the byelection, he rightly didn't make a noise about it. That's tomorrow's debate," Kinnock said.

In his account, the campaign had a single purpose: "It was about winning Makerfield in order to enable him to become leader of the party".

Burnham stays evasive with MPs

Burnham's own words to Parliament are more guarded. In a long statement to MPs he declined to say whether he wanted renegotiation with the EU to lead to rejoining, telling one Tory MP he was "getting way ahead of himself".

The Guardian's politics live blog expected No 10's lobby briefing to make clear that its understanding of Burnham's position on rejoining the EU is not quite the same as Kinnock's.

A 'common-sense socialist'

Kinnock framed Burnham's politics in terms that stretch beyond the European question:

• •He called Burnham's approach common sense rather than a matter of left and right, comparing his view of the engagement of the state to what Winston Churchill did in the 1950s.

• •He described Burnham as rational and cool, a very common-sense socialist who has advanced greatly in the last 10–12 years.

• •Asked about Burnham's place on the political spectrum, he said: "Of course he's on the left. I'm on the left. We're socialists, but we are prompted by the usefulness of the application of ideas".

Kinnock speaks on Europe with his own record behind him: he is a former vice-president of the European Commission and an ardent pro-European.