Chancellor John Healey has left the door open to the UK signing up to the European Union's freedom of movement, saying it could be part of a "bigger discussion" about securing a better Brexit deal.
Speaking to GB News after delivering his Budget on Wednesday, Mr Healey said Britain could adopt Ireland's approach as part of a wider conversation about improving the UK's relationship with the EU.
Chancellor's comments on EU ties
Mr Healey told GB News: "Inevitably [freedom of movement is] part of a bigger discussion about how we get a better Brexit deal and Britain does better after the 10 years of Brexit deal that's failing the country. Now, the Prime Minister wants that bigger conversation. My first focus is this European Summit that's coming up next month, and I want to make sure that we can negotiate some better terms and lower costs for our business."
A better deal, the Chancellor insisted, would create jobs, improve trade and help bring down costs for British consumers. However, he insisted any changes to current policies will not happen in this parliament.
Healey rules out rejoining EU
When asked if he were in favour of the UK entering the EU, Mr Healey said: "No, I'm in favour of accepting that we've got a Brexit decision."
He added: "And I'm in favour of the job we need to do now, which is to make the best of the terms we've got. And my job as Chancellor is to make sure that we can reinforce the economy.
"We can create the support for those people who are ready to start and rapidly grow firms here. And I want them to stay here. That's why measures I took in the Budget will boost investment.
"It'll reinforce innovation. And it will also help try and create the wealth that we need to create the jobs."
PM faces Tory criticism
During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said he is focused on "getting a better deal for Britain" with the EU, as the Tories accused him of reopening the Brexit debate.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Mr Burnham of failing to "respect" the Brexit vote, to which the Prime Minister replied Labour's "red lines in the manifesto are firmly in place".
Mrs Badenoch added: "The Prime Minister was not here for the 2017 parliament, but many of us were.
"We do not want to go through that again. The country was paralysed. It was miserable, regardless of which side of the debate you were on.
"And it was because that side of the House would not respect the result, and they are doing it again. Does the Prime Minister really think the country wants to reopen that debate?"
Mr Burnham replied: "Yes, now she's speaking the truth. The country was paralysed by the party opposite — low growth, insufficient control on migration, that is what this side of the House is dealing with."
He added: "Where I am focused is getting a better deal for Britain, that is my responsibility, and I will lead from this despatch box over the next few weeks. And I will do everything I can to get a better deal for Britain, a better deal for farmers and food producers, less red tape on our exporters, more support for our steel and our car industry, more control of migration. I will stand here and defend doing that, as well as being true to our manifesto."
