Andy Burnham's bid to get a grip on Brexit tensions in Cabinet was dealt a blow by his Chancellor today as he downplayed the chances of the UK rejoining the EU.

John Healey, 66, said he did not see Britain returning to the bloc in his lifetime and cast doubts on reinstating freedom of movement, in a series of post-Budget interviews.

His intervention came the day after the Prime Minister sent a letter to ministers urging them not to take fixed positions on future ties with the EU.

Mr Burnham triggered a storm earlier this month by raising the prospect the UK could rejoin the bloc after the next election, and even restore the previous open borders rules.

However, Mr Healey, who represents a heavily Leave-supporting area of South Yorkshire, risked undermining the call for 'discipline' on the issue. 

Asked on GB News whether free movement was 'on the agenda now', the Chancellor said he was 'in favour of accepting that we've got a Brexit decision', adding: 'No. Freedom of movement is not on the agenda, and certainly for this Parliament it's ruled out.'

Despite the seemingly trenchant statement, the Chancellor added: 'But inevitably it's part of a bigger discussion about how we get a better Brexit deal and Britain does better after the ten years of Brexit deal that's failing the country.'

Later, speaking to Channel 4 News, he was asked about Mr Burnham's hope that the  UK would rejoin in his lifetime, replying: 'I'm older than Andy Burnham. I don't expect to see that.'

He went on: 'My job … is to try and make the most of Britain's position now.

'And that's why both Andy Burnham and I are really at the moment looking to get the best possible deal when we have the European summit on the 20th of November.'

Speaking to LBC, Mr Healey was pushed on whether the UK had to rejoin the EU to get stronger growth.

'I don't actually accept that. I mean, it's been - it's certain Brexit has certainly hit our level of growth,' he said. 

'It's certainly hit our level of trade. But we had a referendum. We're out of the European Union. 

'The challenge for me now is how do we make the best of an economy which this year has proved remarkably resilient. It's confounded the forecasters.' 

In the letter to the Cabinet published yesterday, Mr Burnham said any 'fundamental change' to post-Brexit arrangements would be 'for the public to decide' and left to the next Parliament.

The PM's call at the weekend for an 'honest discussion' about a return to freedom of movement has prompted questions about the parameters around his vision for a deepening relationship with Brussels.

Confusion intensified after he was pressed on Monday about how any change in Labour's manifesto red lines - ruling out rejoining the customs union and single market - would be put to voters.

Speaking to ITV, Mr Burnham 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.

In another interview, he said 'no' when asked whether he would allow the UK to reinstate EU freedom of movement without a referendum, forcing Downing Street to later clarify that he was 'not leaning either way' on how to move forward.

Mr Burnham was asked on a visit to the Rolls-Royce factory in Derby today if he was trying to stop ministers speaking out.

He said: 'Not in the slightest.

'I have been working with the Cabinet on the approach that we're taking to Europe, and we have a clear approach now as we go into the next UK-EU summit, which is three weeks away.

'And when we talk about growth and defying those growth expectations, if I can get a good deal at that summit it could add up to 0.4% to UK GDP.

'And I'm really focused on that challenge right now.

'It can be a real boost for farming, for food production in this country.

'It could protect our car industry, our steel industry.

'Let's get a good deal for Britain at that summit, and I'll be doing everything I can to secure that.'

Writing to the Cabinet, Mr Burnham said: 'I am clear in my conviction that the Brexit deal negotiated by the Conservative government was not good enough for Britain. It has led to a decade of low growth, burdened businesses with more red tape and weakened our ability to control immigration.

'It is a harder Brexit than was promised at the EU referendum.'

Mr Burnham told ministers there was an 'agreed mandate' for the summit to which Cabinet collective responsibility applies and warned them against publicly advocating for any specific outcome in the period that follows.

'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,' he said.

'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.'