Andy Burnham has vowed to give Britain an "honest conversation" about Brexit.
Nevertheless, after yesterday's mix-up concerning another referendum, the direction of that talk remains uncertain.
The prime minister seemed to dismiss the idea of reinstating freedom of movement without a new public vote, only for Downing Street to later claim no referendum was being considered.
Ten Downing also declined to confirm whether the electorate would be asked to decide at the next general election - a scenario Angela Rayner had mentioned a day before.
It is worth noting that Burnham has not actually suggested re-introducing freedom of movement.
He maintains that Labour's current Brexit red lines will stay firmly in place for the remainder of this Parliament.
Instead, he says the nation should assess whether its ties with Brussels are effective and think about possible next steps.
Those steps could range from tighter trade deals to re-entering the single market or even rejoining the EU entirely.
The situation becomes more complex because Burnham has openly said he would like Britain to rejoin the bloc within his lifetime, while his spokeswoman asserts he is not favouring any specific route.
He also recalled a promise made to voters in heavily pro-Leave Makerfield earlier this year that he would not "re-run" the Brexit arguments.
For the millions who voted Leave in 2016, freedom of movement was not a minor policy point.
Regaining control over immigration lay at the core of their choice.
With Labour's cabinet split, Nigel Farage already discussing a possible alliance with the Conservatives, and Downing Street unable to explain how the public would be consulted, the original Brexit arguments are beginning to resurface.
