Burnham insists 'no confusion at all' over his Brexit position
Summary
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said his position on Brexit had not changed and that the government would not restore EU freedom of movement during this Parliament. He said he would seek practical improvements to the UK’s relationship with the EU at a summit in Brussels on 20 November, while any fundamental change would be for the public and a future Parliament to decide.Key Facts
- Burnham said the government had a collectively agreed position on the EU and that it matched what he had said during the Makerfield by-election.
- Labour’s 2024 manifesto ruled out restoring freedom of movement, joining the EU single market or joining a customs union.
- Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Burnham of creating confusion and asked whether he wanted a referendum on rejoining the EU.
- Burnham said the UK had experienced low growth and insufficient control over migration after what he called a harder Brexit than voters had been promised in 2016.
- At the 20 November Brussels summit, Burnham plans to discuss youth mobility, food and drink, energy, and cooperation on illegal immigration.
- In a letter to Cabinet ministers, Burnham asked them to stay aligned and not publicly advocate specific options or predict the summit’s outcome.
- Burnham said any fundamental change to the UK’s relationship with the EU would be for the public to decide and a matter for the next Parliament.
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