Burnham Dismisses Free Movement Claims While Labour Clings to a Soft-Border Agenda
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UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham denied proposing a return to free movement, while Labour ministers said they are bound by the manifesto and want a controlled system as the government moves toward November EU talks on migration-related deals.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham told ITV that he has not proposed bringing back free movement, rejecting the claim outright and calling for an honest debate about how migration patterns have changed since the Brexit vote. He said the short-term influx of temporary migrants from Europe has been replaced by longer-term settlement of migrants from other regions, a shift he described as the "Boriswave."
Burnham added that the public must guide the direction of the UK’s future relationship with the EU, stating, "The public need to be the boss when it comes to whatever happens with Brexit."
Labour Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood reiterated the party’s manifesto stance, which rules out a return to free movement, the customs union or the single market. She told Sky News, "What I am keen on is abiding by our manifesto," and warned that losing access to EU migration databases has significantly affected the UK’s ability to manage migration.
Immigration Minister Anna Turley said her priority is to improve the immigration system, increase employment for young Britons and curb illegal migration, emphasizing the need for a controlled and orderly approach.
The government expects the EU summit in November to finalize agreements on food and drink, emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme, after which broader discussions on a long-term UK-EU deal will continue.