Andy Burnham and Nigel Farage have clashed over the prospect of reversing Brexit as UK and EU officials prepared to hold talks on a return to freedom of movement. The row comes as the Prime Minister has opened up the possibility of far closer ties with the European Union after Brexit failed to deliver the economic benefits promised to voters at the 2016 referendum.
Burnham calls for honest discussion on freedom of movement
Mr Burnham has called for an “honest discussion” about a return to freedom of movement, a move that appears to have caught some Labour MPs, and possibly ministers, by surprise. There was further confusion over whether he was suggesting the Government would only take such a step after a second referendum.
Mr Farage, who has admitted Brexit has failed but blames Conservative governments for not delivering it, criticised Mr Burnham, saying he had “no mandate” for signing up the UK to freedom of movement.
“Five months ago, Andy Burnham says … I’m not going to reopen these arguments,” the Reform UK leader told BBC radio.
“Two-and-a-half years ago, a Labour government got a massive majority in Parliament saying we will not be re-entering the single market, the customs union, or opening up a debate on the free movement of people.
“What I am saying is this: this Prime Minister has no mandate, and to hear that his officials are negotiating in Brussels already is really very poor indeed.”
UK-EU summit to focus on trade
A series of agreements are expected to be reached at a UK-EU summit next month to boost trade ties. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the summit on November 20 in Brussels would focus on trade deals already in the works, but he also made clear that medium to longer-term future ties would be discussed.
“You’ve got the negotiations on the summit, but there have been no assumptions made about the next stage after that,” he said. “It’s the Prime Minister quite rightly saying he wants to set out to the British people what the options are to resolve some of the tensions that exist.”
Pressed on whether UK officials are talking to the EU or planning to do so about freedom of movement, he said: “They will be talking to them about what the future options for our relationship might be. But here and now, the focus should be on the summit and the tangible difference improvements we’re going to make.”
Downing Street denies backtracking
Downing Street faced a barrage of questions on Monday over the PM’s stance on freedom of movement. No 10 denied it was backtracking after Mr Burnham earlier appeared to have left the door open to a potential referendum on freedom of movement.
In an interview on Monday, he ruled out the possibility of rejoining the EU within this Parliament, which is set to end in 2029. In another, he said “no” when asked if he would allow the UK to reinstate EU freedom of movement without a referendum.
In a sign of potential Cabinet disquiet over Mr Burnham’s Brexit positioning, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told the Commons on Monday that his call for an honest discussion is “not the same as settled policy”.
She said: “The Prime Minister has also observed that there were very significant issues with freedom of movement when we were within the EU. An honest debate means actually being honest about all of the aspects of that debate and not cherry-picking.”
