UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has criticized the current Brexit agreement, stating it falls short of expectations and has not adequately served Britain’s interests. He expressed concerns over the economic impact and challenges in managing irregular migration post-Brexit. Despite these criticisms, Burnham ruled out significant changes to the UK’s relationship with the European Union during the current parliamentary term.
Burnham argued that the Brexit deal resulted in a harder form of exit from the EU than what was promised to voters during the 2016 referendum. He noted that the anticipated benefits, particularly in terms of economic performance and immigration control, have not been realized. Addressing whether the UK should rejoin the EU, Burnham said he would be open to this possibility in the future but emphasized that any such decision should be guided by the public’s wishes. He confirmed that proposing EU membership is not on the agenda for the current parliamentary term, prioritizing instead the improvement of existing arrangements.
On the topic of immigration, Burnham highlighted the difficulties in returning individuals who enter the UK irregularly post-Brexit. He voiced support for stricter settlement rules for foreign workers, advocating that permanent residency should be earned rather than automatically granted.
Looking ahead to the UK-EU summit on November 20, Burnham sees potential opportunities to negotiate agreements that could benefit British industries, such as food manufacturers, that have been impacted by trade barriers stemming from Brexit.
These statements come amidst internal government pressures regarding its European strategy. Some Labour Party members, particularly those from constituencies that favored Brexit, worry that reopening the debate may create political openings for opposition parties. Burnham reassured that the government does not intend to rerun the Brexit referendum and stressed that the public should have a say in shaping the UK’s future EU relationship.
Burnham also dismissed the possibility of an early general election and called for the upcoming budget to focus on providing greater economic stability for households and businesses.