The Conservative Party has accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of prioritising Brussels over British interests ahead of an EU summit on 20 November, warning his plans could cost taxpayers billions and entangle UK policy with the bloc.
Writing for the Daily Express, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party Alex Burghart said Burnham is reopening questions settled by the 2016 Brexit vote, when Britain decided that its laws, money, and borders should be controlled in British hands. Burghart stressed this was a democratic decision, not a rejection of cooperation with neighbours, but a choice for Britain to determine its own future.
Financial commitments under scrutiny
The deputy leader highlighted several financial concessions in the draft agreement, including a payment of £570 million for Erasmus in 2027 alone, and a floated additional £450 million to subsidise EU students' tuition at British universities. He also noted the draft commits Britain to funding EU regional development funds as the price for access to the bloc's electricity market.
Burghart argued that linking the UK's emissions trading system to the EU's would drive up costs for manufacturers and make it impossible to scrap the Carbon Tax and net zero levies. He also pointed to the draft's welcome of reciprocal EU access to British fishing waters until 2038, despite acknowledging some Celtic Sea fish stocks are suffering a drastic decline.
Immigration and youth mobility concerns
On immigration, the deputy leader said Burnham told Parliament the summit is an opportunity to make progress on illegal immigration, but there is no evidence European countries will agree to take people crossing the Channel in small boats. He suggested British taxpayers could be left with another bill to fund the EU's Channel Action Plan.
Burghart also raised concerns about a proposed youth mobility scheme allowing young Europeans to live in the UK for up to three years, at a time when Britain faces a youth employment crisis. He criticised the government for releasing criminals early from prisons while appearing set to commit not to deport EU-national criminals early.
Demand for transparency and vote
The deputy leader argued that the existing UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement functions effectively, questioning why the UK would accept new financial obligations, regulatory constraints, and reduced freedom. He called on Burnham to publish the full agreement, disclose the costs, and put it to a vote in Parliament.
Burghart concluded that the Conservative Party took Britain out of the EU and will defend the freedoms that decision secured, vowing to reverse any settlement that holds the country back. He urged Burnham to remember he is negotiating for Britain, not for Brussels.
