Prime Minister Open to Honest Talks on EU Free Movement Ahead of Summit

Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated he is open to a factual discussion about bringing back free movement between Britain and the European Union, suggesting a future partnership could involve single market entry or full EU membership. Speaking to the Sunday Times ahead of an EU summit in Brussels on November 20 where he plans to propose a reset of ties, Burnham noted that migration patterns have shifted since the 2016 Brexit vote away from the temporary movement of young workers.

Reactions

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner backed the approach on the BBC, noting that ministers must be practical to secure a strong agreement and that trade-offs must be discussed openly before seeking a voter mandate at the 2029 general election. Opposition figures strongly opposed the idea, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accusing the prime minister of failing to think through the plan on social media, while Reform UK economy spokesperson Robert Jenrick called the proposal completely mad and detrimental to local workers. Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt warned that reopening the divisive Brexit debate would distract from employing the one million young people currently out of work or training. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper supported the idea as a boost for economic growth and suggested it could help address the small boats crisis.

Context

Free movement was a central point of contention during the 2016 referendum, and the Labour party's 2024 election platform explicitly ruled out returning to it or to the single market. Burnham maintained that any future shift in policy would require explicit voter approval at a general election.