Burnham open to 'honest discussion' on EU free movement

**Burnham open to 'honest discussion' on EU free movement**

Burnham says migration to the UK is "different" now compared with the pre-Brexit period

The prime minister says he would welcome an "honest discussion" about the possibility of restoring free movement between the UK and the European Union.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Andy Burnham said he wants to pursue a new kind of relationship with Brussels, potentially including full EU membership or entry to the single market, which would require free movement.

"I think you have to have a very factual, quite evidence-based debate about this," he told the newspaper.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said there could be "no return" to free movement after the 2016 EU referendum, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the prime minister's remarks were a betrayal of voters who backed Brexit.

Burnham has previously pledged to Labour's 2024 election manifesto, which ruled out a return to free movement, single market membership or a customs union.

He has said any major changes would need a mandate at a general election, which is due by 2029.

Migration was central to the 2016 Brexit campaign, with the "leave" side highlighting rules that allowed any EU citizen to move to the UK.

But the prime minister suggested the kind of migration seen during the years of EU membership was "different" from the problems faced now.

"It was generally younger people, not always, but spending a few years, then going back," he said in his interview with the Sunday Times.

"And obviously the ease of that worked for British people as well."

He admitted that freedom of movement "had very significant challenges associated with it".

"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? I think we've just got to have an honest discussion about those things."

Burnham's readiness to reopen some of the most sensitive issues in British politics has marked his first months in office.

In an interview with the BBC in September, Burnham said Britain could go "all the way" towards rejoining the European Union.

However, in his latest comments, the prime minister stressed: "I can't see myself ever recommending anything that would involve joining the euro or Schengen."

The Schengen Agreement permits passport-free travel across EU countries. Although the UK did not previously give up the pound while it was an EU member, the bloc has encouraged new members to adopt the single currency.

The comments came ahead of his meeting with EU leaders at a summit on 20 November in Brussels, where he is expected to set out options for resetting relations with the bloc.

The shadow home secretary said EU free movement would amount to "handing back control of our borders and allowing uncontrolled migration from across Europe".

Philp said: "The British people voted to end free movement, and there can be no return to it."

Burnham won the Greater Manchester seat of Makerfield in a by-election in June, before becoming prime minister the following month. The constituency voted to leave the European Union in 2016.

As a by-election candidate, Burnham had promised not to "re-run" Brexit arguments and said he was "not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU".

Responding to the Sunday Times interview, Farage said: "This is a total betrayal of Brexit Britain and his Makerfield pitch".

"He is also deluded to say immigration was different when we were members of the EU. We will fight this dishonesty," the Reform UK leader added.

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