Andy Burnham: The return of free movement between Britain and the EU is possible

London opens discussion on free movement

United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham publicly confirmed the government's readiness to consider the possibility of restoring free movement of citizens between Britain and European Union countries. This statement came against the backdrop of an expected summit of leaders from both sides, scheduled for November, according to Politico.

Shift in approach to immigration policy

According to the head of government, returning to a free movement regime is not a "red line" in negotiations. Burnham argues his position by stating that general trends in the field of immigration have changed significantly since the 2016 referendum, in which British voters chose to leave the EU.

At the same time, the Prime Minister emphasised that the United Kingdom has not yet formed a final position on this issue. He added that free movement was associated with very serious challenges.

Context of a "reset" in relations

Earlier, in September, during the Labour Party conference, Andy Burnham stated that various scenarios for a "reset" of interaction with the bloc, which includes 27 states, were being considered. Among the options discussed were joining the EU single market, accession to the customs union, or even a full return to the European Union.

Joining the single market would require the United Kingdom to accept EU rules, which provide for the free movement of people. Some members of the Labour Party have already expressed support for such initiatives.

Departure from pre-election promises

This position on freedom of movement is a significant departure from the Labour Party's pre-election programme, published in 2024. That document explicitly ruled out the possibility of returning to the single market, the customs union, or establishing a free movement regime with the European Union.