Andy Burnham: Time for honest discussion about freedom of movement between UK and EU

Andy Burnham: Time for honest discussion about freedom of movement between UK and EU Prime minister says it is time for ‘evidence-based debate’ about what a new relationship with the EU would look like - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Andy Burnham has said he wants an “honest discussion” about Britain readopting freedom of movement with the European Union. The prime minister has said he is ready for a “very factual, quite evidence-based debate” about a new relationship with Brussels. He said that ending free movement has come with reduced access to European data on migration, telling The Sunday Times: “Consider what we’ve lost, which was the ability to be part of Eurodac and all the data collaboration around migration. You’ve got to see it in the round, rather than just looking at freedom of movement on its own”. Eurodac is the EU’s biometric database, which assists border control and supports management of asylum claims. The UK’s border security commander Major General Duncan Capps told MPs this week that “we would very much like to be part of that [Eurodac], however we can make that work”. Mr Burnham wants to consider various options for a new relationship with the EU, potentially including a return to full EU membership or joining the single market – which would require free movement. The Independent revealed in September that Mr Burnham was going to edge Labour closer to rejoining the EU, with ministers saying that it was now a question of “how it is expressed in the manifesto, rather than if”. One senior minister told The Independent that “the mood has completely changed on this subject.” Mr Burnham has said it was “possible” that Labour’s next election manifesto could include an in-out referendum on EU membership. And the EU’s former chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said that Britain would be welcomed back - but with strings attached. Speaking to The Sunday Times, Mr Burnham said: “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.” The prime minister has previously committed to the red lines in Labour’s 2024 election manifesto – which ruled out the return of free movement, single market membership or a customs union – suggesting any fundamental change in the relationship would have to wait until after a general election. The issue of migration was one of the dominant factors during the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign. But he suggested the type of migration experienced during the years of EU membership was different from the challenges faced now. “It was generally younger people, not always, but spending a few years, then going back,” he said. “And obviously the ease of that worked for British people as well.” Mr Burnham will meet the European Union’s chiefs at a summit on November 20 in Brussels. He has said he will take the opportunity around the summit to lay out to the British public different options for the future relationship with the bloc. But Mr Burnham said he could not imagine recommending the UK joins the Schengen borderless area or ditches the pound to adopt the euro. “I can’t see myself ever recommending anything that would involve joining the euro or Schengen,” he said. Nigel Farage said the prime minister’s comments were a betrayal of voters who backed Brexit, including in Mr Burnham’s Makerfield constituency. The Reform UK leader said: “This is a total betrayal of Brexit Britain and his Makerfield pitch. “He is also deluded to say immigration was different when we were members of the EU. We will fight this dishonesty.” Shadow home secretary Chris Philp 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. “The British people voted to end free movement, and there can be no return to it.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments