UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham allows for an 'honest discussion' on restoring freedom of movement with the EU

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, in an interview with The Sunday Times, declared his readiness for an 'honest discussion' about restoring freedom of movement with the EU as part of a new format of relations with Brussels. He ruled out joining the eurozone and Schengen. The opposition, including Chris Philp and Nigel Farage, called such ideas a betrayal of the outcome of the 2016 referendum. Key proposals are expected ahead of the UK–EU summit on 20 November in Brussels. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, in an interview with The Sunday Times, said he was ready for an 'honest discussion' about restoring freedom of movement with the EU as part of a new format of relations with Brussels. He ruled out joining the eurozone and Schengen. The opposition, including Chris Philp and Nigel Farage, called such ideas a betrayal of the outcome of the 2016 referendum. Key proposals are expected ahead of the UK–EU summit on 20 November in Brussels.

Aziz KarimovFirst published on tafs uz 25 October 2026 at 09:024 min read

The key facts

Burnham allowed discussion of freedom of movement, full EU membership or joining the single market, but ruled out the eurozone and Schengen.
Burnham allowed for discussion of freedom of movement, full EU membership, or joining the single market, but ruled out the eurozone and Schengen.
Any fundamental changes, he said, would require a mandate at a general election, expected no earlier than 2029.
Farage and shadow home secretary Philp sharply criticised the statement; the UK–EU summit is scheduled for 20 November in Brussels.

Burnham open to discussing freedom of movement

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would welcome an 'honest discussion' about the possible return of freedom of movement between the UK and the European Union. In an interview with The Sunday Times, he said he wants to build a new type of relationship with Brussels, potentially including full EU membership or joining the single market — options that entail freedom of movement. 'I think we need to have a very factual, very evidence-based discussion about this,' BBC News quotes him as saying.

Migration 'has become different', the prime minister believes

Burnham stressed that migration to the UK is now 'different' compared with the years of the country's EU membership, which it left in early 2020. 'It was, generally speaking, young people — not always — who spent a few years and then returned,' he said. According to him, 'revolving-door migration, where people came and then left, is a different thing,' and the migration balance has changed since then. At the same time, he acknowledged that freedom of movement 'had very serious problems associated with it.' The prime minister also said: 'I cannot imagine ever recommending anything that would involve joining the eurozone or Schengen.' As euronews notes, the UK was not part of the Schengen area even before Brexit.

Fierce opposition reaction

The statements drew harsh criticism. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said that after the 2016 referendum 'there can be no return to freedom of movement,' and restoring it would mean 'handing back control of our borders and allowing uncontrolled migration from across Europe.' Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the prime minister's words 'a complete betrayal of Britain, which voted for Brexit,' and of his election campaign position in the Makerfield constituency, adding that Burnham is 'mistaken' in claiming immigration used to be different. It is noted that Burnham won the Makerfield seat in a by-election in June, having promised as a candidate not to 'reopen' the Brexit disputes, while the constituency voted to leave the EU in 2016.

Contradiction with previous commitments and the 20 November summit

Editorial context: Burnham's position contradicts his own previous commitments. He had previously affirmed his commitment to Labour's 2024 manifesto, which ruled out the return of freedom of movement, single market membership and a customs union, and in September, in a BBC interview, he said Britain could go 'the whole way' back to EU membership and floated the possibility of a Brexit referendum in the party's election manifesto. According to him, any fundamental changes would require a mandate at a general election, which is not expected before 2029. The statements came ahead of the UK–EU summit on 20 November in Brussels, where, according to euronews, Burnham and EU leaders hope to reach agreements on food and drink trade, youth mobility and emissions trading. The prime minister, according to the BBC, will present options for a 'reset' of relations with the bloc.

Why it matters

The prime minister's statement brings one of the most sensitive Brexit issues — freedom of movement — back to the centre of British politics, touching on both migration policy and the fate of trade arrangements with the EU. The nearest practical point of change is the 20 November summit in Brussels, where deals on food, youth mobility and emissions trading are being discussed. It remains unclear which options Burnham will officially put forward at the summit and whether he will demand a change to Labour's manifesto ahead of the 2029 election.