UK Prime Minister Burnham Calls for Honest Debate on Restoring EU Freedom of Movement
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Britain should finally have an honest, adult conversation about restoring EU freedom of movement for workers, arguing that migration has changed since Brexit and that the country should weigh the losses of isolation against the benefits of renewed cooperation with Europe.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Britain needs an "honest discussion" about restoring the European Union’s freedom of movement rules for workers, a policy that was a central issue in the 2016 Brexit referendum. Burnham told The Sunday Times that the nature of migration has shifted since the United Kingdom left the bloc, noting that earlier EU-origin workers tended to move in a "revolving door" pattern, whereas current migration dynamics are different.
He added that any consideration of freedom of movement should be part of a broader review of the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU, including data-sharing arrangements such as participation in Eurodac. Burnham highlighted that the loss of such cooperation should be weighed alongside any potential benefits of reinstating free movement, rather than treating Brexit mythology as if it were untouchable.
Statistics from the Office for National Statistics show net migration to the UK fell to 171,000 in 2025, down from 331,000 the previous year, marking the lowest level since before the post-Brexit immigration system was introduced.
Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, criticised Burnham’s remarks, describing them as a "total betrayal of Brexit Britain". Burnham, who has previously suggested the UK might apply to rejoin the EU, said Brexit has caused "more harm than good" and emphasized the need to consider the country’s long-term relationship with Europe instead of clinging to a failed nationalist project. He is scheduled to meet senior EU officials at a summit on November 20.