Burnham calls for ‘honest discussion’ with EU about freedom of movement

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!Andy Burnham has opened the door to freedom of movement with the EU

Andy Burnham has opened the door to freedom of movement with the EU Credit: TOBIAS SCHWARZ/Getty Images

Sabrina Miller Whitehall Correspondent Show biography !Sabrina Miller

Sabrina was named Young Journalist of the Year at the 2025 Press Awards. She has previously specialised in home and foreign affairs, including dispatches from Ukraine, Israel and Turkey

Published 24 October 2026 11:11pm BST

Andy Burnham has opened the door to freedom of movement with the EU and said that the country needs to have an “evidence-based debate” about the issue.

The Prime Minister wants to consider various options for a new relationship with Brussels, potentially including a return to full EU membership or joining the single market – which would require free movement.

Mr Burnham – who rather took advantage of this scheme to work in Germany in the 1990s – told The Sunday Times: “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.

“The balance of migration has changed, hasn’t it, since then? I think we’ve just got to have an honest discussion about those things.”

Defending the practice, he explained that it was “generally younger people, not always, but spending a few years [here] then going back. And obviously the ease worked for British people as well”.

Not ‘jumping to a firm position’

He added that he was not going to “jump to a firm position” on free movement but ruled out joining the euro or the Schengen area.

Adopting the euro, Europe’s single currency, has been a requirement for joining the EU in recent decades.

These latest comments will make clear that staying out of free movement would not be a red line during potential future talks with the trading bloc as the Prime Minister considers different “options” for bringing the UK closer to Europe.

Since becoming Prime Minister, Mr Burnham has repeatedly signalled his intention to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with the European Union, saying that it is “possible” a future Labour election manifesto could promise a fresh in-out referendum.

!Adopting the euro has been a requirement for joining the EU in recent decades

Adopting the euro has been a requirement for joining the EU in recent decades Credit: RENE GOMOLJ/AFP

This is despite the fact he promised not to “rerun” old Brexit arguments warning they would leave Britain “stuck in a permanent rut” during the Makerfield by-election, which backed leave.

During the 2016 Brexit Referendum, freedom of movement became a flashpoint argument, with unfettered immigration being one of the reasons Britain voted to leave.

When Britain was an EU member state, every EU citizen had the right to move, live and work in the UK.

As a result annual net migration rose to 330,000. This rose to a record high of 900,000 in January 2020, a surge in immigration called “the Boriswave”, because of a lenient points-based system based on work requirements.

Further explaining his support for free movement, Mr Burnham said: “In the referendum campaign, you didn’t often think that the points you were making were landing much.

“However, I always remember cutting through a little when I talked about my dad, who worked in Germany in the Nineties.

“And I think people have forgotten that, because in the 2000s onwards it [leaving the UK for work] was less of an issue, but it was an issue when in the Eighties and Nineties people did have to travel to find work.

“So I think we just need a rounded discussion about that. Freedom of movement has negatives associated with it.”

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, 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.

!Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary Credit: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

“The British people voted to end free movement, and there can be no return to it. We need an immigration system – like the Conservatives’ BORDERS plan – that is built in Britain, for Britain, not one that gives Brussels the power to decide who can live in our country.

“The Conservatives will oppose any attempt to bring back free movement. Andy Burnham should stop trying to take Britain back to 2016 and instead set out a plan to take the country forward.”

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Burnham calls for ‘honest discussion’ with EU about freedom of movement

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