Prime Minister Andy Burnham has opened a debate on whether the UK should restore free movement with the European Union, signalling that this condition need no longer be a "red line" in EU negotiations. Speaking to the Sunday Times, Burnham said an "honest discussion" about freedom of movement was overdue, noting that migration patterns have changed since the UK was in the EU.
Burnham stated that rejoining the single market and accepting free movement could be implemented through a Labour manifesto commitment without requiring a referendum. Full rejoin, he clarified, would need a public vote. He acknowledged that free movement posed "very significant challenges" but suggested it differed from current migration patterns, which he described as more permanent than the "revolving-door" movement of EU citizens under the previous framework.
Cabinet support is divided. Angela Rayner, housing secretary, backed an "honest conversation about trade-offs" ahead of a general election. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband favours closer EU ties to boost growth. However, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has previously expressed caution about closer European alignment, citing "quite hard trade-offs."
The proposal has triggered alarm among Labour MPs representing Brexit-voting constituencies in the north and Midlands. Jonathan Hinder, MP for Pendle, recently pressed Burnham in parliament to rule out free movement's return. One unnamed "red wall" MP said reopening the debate risked losing seats to Reform UK, though another acknowledged Burnham was arguing "from a position of strength" given recent polling gains.
Richard Walker, Labour peer and Iceland executive chair, told Times Radio that restarting the debate set a "dangerous precedent" and said opening borders would not help the "1 million young people that are out of work."
Kemi Badenoch, Conservative leader, called the proposal "another example of Burnham's foot-in-mouth syndrome." Nigel Farage of Reform UK called it a "total betrayal of Brexit Britain."
Polling suggests UK voters are increasingly open to EU rejoin or single-market arrangements involving free movement. Luke Tryl at the More in Common thinktank noted voters were now less concerned about free movement given years of high non-EU migration, but would worry more about EU budget contributions or joining the euro.
Labour's manifesto currently pledges no return to free movement or the single market, though Burnham signalled the question could be revisited at next month's EU summit.