UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for an “honest discussion” about restoring free movement between the UK and the European Union as part of a potential new relationship with the bloc.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Burnham said he wants to explore options including rejoining the EU, entering the single market, or joining a customs union, all of which would require accepting free movement. He argued that pre-Brexit migration was often temporary, with younger people moving for short periods, and that Britons also benefited from the ability to live and work in Europe. “Revolving door migration where people would come and then go back is different,” he said. “The balance of migration has changed, hasn’t it, since then?”
Burnham acknowledged that free movement “had very significant challenges associated with it” but insisted the debate should be “factual, quite evidence-based.” He ruled out joining the Schengen borderless area or adopting the euro, stating, “I can’t see myself ever recommending anything that would involve joining the euro or Schengen.”
The prime minister is set to meet EU leaders, including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, at a summit in Brussels on November 20, where he plans to outline possible future relationships with the bloc. However, he has previously committed to Labour’s 2024 manifesto red lines, which excluded free movement, single market membership, or a customs union, suggesting any major shift would require a general election, expected by 2029.
Opposition figures swiftly criticized the proposal. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called it a “total betrayal of Brexit Britain,” while Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp said, “The British people voted to end free movement, and there can be no return to it.” Farage added that Burnham was “deluded” to claim EU-era immigration was different from current patterns.
Burnham’s comments come as net migration to the UK has fallen sharply from its 2023 peak of 944,000 to 171,000 last year, below pre-Brexit levels. He noted that decisions after the 2016 referendum had led to higher migration initially, but the current figures reflect a significant drop.
