The key facts

  • Michel Barnier: there is no 'single market à la carte' — the UK would have to accept all four freedoms, including the free movement of people
  • Prime Minister Andy Burnham allowed for a return to the EU internal market, but promised not to change relations with the EU before the next election and not to introduce free movement without a referendum
  • In 10 days, the sides in Brussels expect to present agreements on food standards, youth visas and linking British industry to the EU's carbon quota trading system

Barnier rejects 'à la carte' access to the single market

Former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on the BBC programme Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg said that the UK will not be able to 'cherry pick' which elements of the single market it accepts. According to him, there is no 'single market à la carte': to gain access, the UK would have to once again accept the conditions that apply to other participants, including the free movement of people. 'There will be no possibility of having one freedom and not having another. The four freedoms are the four conditions of being inside the single market,' Barnier said, referring to the free movement of goods, services, capital and people.

Burnham's position and the upcoming summit

The comments were prompted by the position of Prime Minister Andy Burnham: he has said that returning to the EU internal market is one of the options he could consider when reshaping relations with Brussels, and even allowed for rejoining the EU as a full member, but ruled out major changes before the next election. On the free movement of people, Burnham recently said he would not restore it without a referendum; Downing Street subsequently clarified that he is not yet advocating its return. His predecessor Keir Starmer ruled out restoring free movement in the Labour Party's 2024 election manifesto.

What has already been agreed and what remains disputed

Regardless of the single market debate, the two sides are preparing narrower agreements: in 10 days there will be a meeting in Brussels, where, according to both sides' plans, deals are expected to be presented on food standards, youth visas and re-linking British industry to the EU's carbon quota trading system. This distinguishes the current stage from the question of membership: we are talking about targeted agreements, not full access to the market.

The row over the referendum and '£350 million a week'

Barnier also said that 'the door is open' for the UK to return to the EU as a member, but predicted that EU countries would not agree to restore the British budget rebate first agreed in 1985: the country's departure created a 'new situation', and a new rebate is 'off the table'. In the row, he compared Reform leader Nigel Farage to Marine Le Pen, calling their approaches 'the same populism, the same lies and the same false promises', and cited the Vote Leave campaign slogan about '£350 million a week for the EU' as an example — according to him, 'it was a lie'. Farage, who was not involved in the Vote Leave campaign, replied that Barnier is 'arrogant, out of touch and rude', and that he 'with every word confirms our decision to leave'. Boris Johnson previously defended the figure as based on the UK's gross contributions.