Burnham and Farage in angry Brexit bust-up as UK and EU officials to begin freedom of movement talks

Andy Burnham and Nigel Farage were embroiled in a full-scale row over reversing Brexit as UK and EU officials were set to hold talks on a return to freedom of movement. The Prime Minister has boldly opened up the prospect of far closer ties with the European Union after the failure of Brexit to deliver the economic benefits promised to millions of voters at the 2016 referendum. A series of agreements are expected to be reached at a UK-EU summit next month to boost trade ties.

However, Mr Burnham has made clear that he wants to go far further in restoring links with the European bloc. People take part in a pro-rejoin the EU demonstration in central London on October, 2026. (Photo by Henry Nicholls / AFP via Getty Images) AFP/Getty He has called for an “honest discussion” about a return to freedom of movement in a move which appears to have caught some Labour MPs, and possibly ministers, by surprise. There was further confusion over whether he was saying that the Government would only take such a dramatic step after a second referendum.

Mr Farage, who himself has admitted Brexit has failed but blames Tory governments for not delivering it, slammed 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.” Voters were told by Leave campaigners that quitting the EU would boost funding for the NHS Getty Images However, Mr Burnham’s decisive stance on key issues and new postive tone in Government has lifted Labour in the polls as Reform has lost popularity. A number of Labour MPs, including in London, are now pushing for the party to include rejoining the EU in its 2029 general election manifesto.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the UK-EU summit on November 20 in Brussels would focus on trade deals already in the works. However, he also made clear 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 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 the tensions that exist.”

Brexit has hit trade between the UK and EU PA Wire 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 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. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood Getty 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.”