Burnham calls for 'honest discussion' on EU free movement after Brexit

What Burnham said

Andy Burnham has called for an honest discussion about freedom of movement between the UK and the European Union, and suggested Britain could readopt the EU's free movement rules. In an interview with The Sunday Times, reported on 24 October 2026, the prime minister said the 'revolving door' pattern of EU-era migration, in which people came for a few years and then went home, has changed since Brexit. More foreigners now settle in Britain permanently, he said. He described the earlier migration as less difficult than the present system, while acknowledging that free movement had very significant challenges. He gave the example of his father Roy, who moved to work in Germany in the 1990s, and said the ease of movement worked for British people as well.

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

Free movement and Brexit

Free movement was one of the dominant factors in the 2016 referendum campaign and was regarded as decisive in Britain's vote to leave the bloc. The EU rule lets citizens of member states move, live and work in any other member state regardless of nationality. After Britain left in January 2020, a points-based immigration system introduced by then-prime minister Boris Johnson replaced those rules. LBC reports that annual net migration has soared since 2016, from 330,000 people to 900,000 after Britain left the bloc. The earlier liberal rules unleashed the so-called Boriswave, when net migration first surged before the rules were tightened. Burnham also said Brexit cost Britain access to Eurodac, the EU's biometric database used for border control and asylum claims.

Options for the EU relationship

Burnham has pledged to review Britain's relationship with the EU, and the Evening Standard reports he is weighing options that could include a return to full EU membership or joining the single market, which would require free movement. Labour's 2024 election manifesto ruled out the return of free movement, single market membership and a customs union, and he has previously committed to those red lines, so any fundamental change would have to wait until after a general election. He ruled out joining the euro or the Schengen borderless area.

“I can't see myself ever recommending anything that would involve joining the euro or Schengen.”

Burnham will meet EU leaders at a summit on 20 November in Brussels, and he has said he will use the occasion to lay out the different options to the British public.

Farage's response

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said the comments were a betrayal of voters who backed Brexit, including in Burnham's Makerfield constituency. He also said Burnham was deluded to suggest immigration was different when Britain was an EU member. Farage's reaction set the Brexit argument against Burnham's call for a debate on the rules.

“This is a total betrayal of Brexit Britain and his Makerfield pitch.”