UK premier expresses optimism about upcoming summit with EU, says 'win-win deal' possible

The British prime minister has said he believes a "win-win" deal can be reached with the EU during a Brussels summit next week. Speaking after meeting European leaders in Ireland on Thursday, Andy Burnham said he hopes a deal could help lower prices and boost the UK economy. "I believe there is a good deal to be done that could be a win-win for Britain and Europe," he told reporters late Thursday. Burnham added: "I think it actually could be more like the Brexit that people thought they were voting for in 2016."

Ahead of the EU-UK summit, which will take place in Brussels on Nov. 20, the UK and EU agreed to a draft deal on removing post-Brexit checks on food and agriculture exports. It has been a heated issue in UK politics, with Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch having previously strongly opposed any move to align with EU rules, saying it would "actually take us backwards." Separately, the Green Party, like the Scottish Labour Party has called for the UK to re-join the customs union.

In the 2016 Brexit referendum, a majority of British voters supported leaving the EU. The UK and EU signed the withdrawal agreement on Jan. 24, 2020, and Britain formally left the bloc on Jan. 31, 2020.