Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would welcome an "honest discussion" about free movement between the UK and the European Union, opening the door to potential EU membership or single market access ahead of an EU summit on November 20.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Burnham framed the question around changed migration patterns since the 2016 Brexit referendum. "Revolving door migration where people would come and then go back is different," he said. "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."
Burnham stressed he could not see himself recommending EU membership terms that included adopting the euro or joining the Schengen passport-free travel zone. He has previously committed to Labour's 2024 election manifesto, which ruled out free movement, single market membership or a customs union. Any changes would require a mandate at a general election due by 2029.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner told the BBC that the government must be "pragmatic to get the best deal for Britain" and that "you can't take anything off the table." She said Burnham wanted an "honest conversation about the facts of what the trade-offs are."
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed the remarks as "foot in mouth syndrome," arguing most Brexit voters opposed free movement because they did not want immigration. Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who backed Remain, warned against reopening the divisive debate and urged the government to make the existing Brexit deal work instead.
Reform UK's Robert Jenrick called the idea "completely mad," saying mass migration "has been a disaster for working people." Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper countered that freedom of movement would benefit growth and pushed for the UK to rejoin the single market and customs union.
Burnham's comments come before he pitches options for resetting UK-EU relations to European leaders.