Andy Burnham has touted a possible return to free movement between the UK and the European Union.
The Prime Minister said he wants an ‘honest discussion’ with the EU as part of his plans for a renewed relationship with the bloc.
Mr Burnham is considering a variety of options to cosy up to Brussels which could include rejoining the EU and the single market.
The decision to move closer to the EU was announced at the Labour Party Conference last month but it has not yet been decided how they will do so.
The PM previously committed to the red lines in Labour’s 2024 election manifesto which ruled out fundamental changes including a return to the EU until after a general election.
But the PM suggested that migration today is far different from the challenges faced when the UK was in the EU.
Free movement allowed any EU citizen to move to the UK and was widely viewed as the main reason the UK left Europe after the 2016 Brexit Referendum.
He said that at the time, it generally consisted of younger people staying for a few years before moving back to their home nation.
Andy Burnham speaks during the Wildfires ’27 Resilience Summit at the National Resilience Centre of Excellence on October 23
‘Obviously the ease of that worked for British people as well,’ he told The Times.
Mr Burnham will meet with the European Union’s chiefs at a summit in Brussels on November 20.
Ahead of the summit, he said he would set out the potential options for a relationship with the EU to the public.
The PM also acknowledged freedom of movement ‘had very significant challenges associated with it and I spoke about them in my previous time in parliament’.
‘But at the same time, it was a type of immigration that perhaps wasn’t as difficult (as now). Revolving door migration where people would come and then go back is different.’
He added that a conversation about free movement with the EU requires ‘a very factual, quite evidence-based debate’.
Despite being keen to bring the UK closer to Europe, Mr Burnham said he does not intend to join the Schengen borderless area.
Nigel Farage said the comments betrayed voters in favour of leaving the EU including in Mr Burnham’s Makerfield constituency.
Nigel Farage laughs during a Reform Party rally held on October 20
The Reform UK leader 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.’
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: ‘Andy Burnham knows full well that a return to EU free movement would mean handing back control of our borders and allowing uncontrolled migration from across Europe.
‘The British people voted to end free movement, and there can be no return to it.’
Mr Burnham revealed he had gotten on with US President Donald Trump better than he imagined.
He said they bonded over being able to have a good chat about sport and golf.
The potential return to free movement comes after Sadiq Khan ramped up the pressure on Mr Burnham to start reversing Brexit at a summit in November.
The London Mayor insisted the PM must take the opportunity to strike agreements on food and drink standards and a youth ‘free movement’ scheme.
In a letter to ministers, Lord Khan said such deals would help move the UK towards the ‘destination’ of rejoining the EU and boost the economy.
The intervention will fuel fears that the premier could make big concessions in his determination to secure closer ties at the summit in Brussels on November 20.
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