Andy Burnham says he wants ‘honest discussion’ about freedom of movement with EU

Freedom of movement was a reciprocal arrangement between the UK and EU. It allowed eligible citizens to move to another participating country to live, work or study without applying through the usual national immigration system. That made movement between Britain and Europe easier than it is now.

The practical benefit was choice. A British young person could move to an EU country for an experience abroad, while European workers could come to the UK. Burnham highlighted these opportunities for Britons, especially younger people. The arrangement was separate from the Schengen Area, which concerns border controls.

The UK ended free movement after Brexit. Burnham now wants an evidence-based public discussion about possibly restoring it as part of a closer EU relationship. Labour's 2024 manifesto ruled out returning to free movement, so any major change would likely wait until after a general election expected by 2029.

Burnham is proposing a public debate about several possible future relationships with the EU. The most ambitious option would be rejoining the EU. Other possibilities include joining the single market, which would require free movement, or joining the customs union. Each option would involve accepting some rules set by the EU.

The mechanism differs between the choices. Single-market membership would create closer economic integration and require signing up to free movement. Customs-union membership would focus on trade arrangements. Full EU membership would mean the broadest relationship. Burnham has ruled out recommending Schengen membership or replacing the pound with the euro.

The proposal conflicts with Labour's 2024 election manifesto, which ruled out free movement, single-market membership and a customs union. Burnham plans to set out different options around an EU summit in Brussels on 20 November. A fundamental change may therefore wait until after a general election expected by 2029.

The latest figure cited is 171,000 net migrants in the year before the article. That is the number arriving minus those leaving. It represents a sharp fall from the record 944,000 reached in the year to March 2023, when migration surged after the pandemic.

The comparison with the referendum period is also striking. Net migration was 335,000 in the 12 months to June 2016, the month of the Brexit leave vote. The latest figure, 171,000, is about half that level. The article describes it as well below pre-Brexit levels, despite the much higher 2023 peak.

These figures complicate the political argument about migration. The Brexit campaign focused on high migration in 2016, while later decisions produced an even higher peak. Migration has since fallen sharply. Burnham argues that the balance and character of migration have changed, supporting what he calls an honest discussion about future policy.

Returning to free movement would restore reciprocal rights for Britons and EU citizens to move for work or living. It would therefore make EU migration easier than under the current system, because movement would rely less on national immigration controls. The change matters both for border management and for personal opportunities.

The practical mechanism is reciprocal access. European citizens could come to the UK under free-movement rules, while Britons could again live and work in EU countries more easily. Burnham pointed to young Britons wanting experience in Europe as a benefit. Free movement should not be confused with Schengen: Burnham said he could not imagine recommending the UK join that border-control area.

Supporters could point to opportunities and reciprocal benefits. Critics, including Nigel Farage and Chris Philp, argue it would surrender border control and permit uncontrolled European migration. The article does not quantify the likely immigration effect. Any return is politically distant because Labour's manifesto ruled it out and a major change may wait until after 2029.

Migration became important because it was highly visible in the months before the referendum. In the 12 months to June 2016, the month of the Brexit vote, net migration reached a near-record 335,000. That figure made immigration a central concern in arguments about Britain's relationship with the EU.

Free movement connected the migration debate directly to EU membership. It enabled reciprocal movement between Britain and EU countries, but critics argued it limited the UK's ability to control arrivals from Europe. The campaign therefore turned migration into a question about sovereignty, borders and the consequences of remaining in the EU.

The later figures show why the issue remains contested. Net migration peaked at 944,000 in the year to March 2023 after post-pandemic recruitment under Boris Johnson's government. It then fell to 171,000 last year. Burnham says migration has changed, while Brexit supporters reject any return to free movement.

EU membership combines political, economic and legal participation in the Union. Single-market membership is narrower and focuses on access to the shared market, but the article says it would require free movement and acceptance of EU rules. A customs union is mainly about trade between members and also involves agreeing to EU rules.

The key mechanism is scope. Joining the single market would bring closer economic integration and movement rights. Joining the customs union would provide a different trade relationship, without necessarily being the same as single-market membership. The article does not explain every technical detail of these arrangements, so this comparison uses their standard meanings.

Schengen is different from all three. It is an area where internal border controls have been abolished. Burnham said he could not imagine recommending UK membership of Schengen, nor adopting the euro. The article presents these as separate choices from discussing free movement, a single market or a customs union.

EU rules create common conditions for countries participating in the single market. They help make cross-border economic activity more predictable by setting shared standards and requirements. In return for that access, participants must accept rules they may not make alone. This is why the issue is both economic and political.

The mechanism is alignment. A country seeking close single-market participation follows relevant EU rules so goods, services, workers or businesses can operate across participating economies under comparable conditions. The article specifically says single-market membership would require free movement and that both it and customs-union membership would involve agreeing to EU rules.

The result is a trade-off between access and autonomy. Closer alignment can support easier exchange, but it limits the freedom to set completely separate arrangements in covered areas. The article does not list particular regulations or enforcement procedures. Burnham plans to present the available relationship options, while Labour's manifesto currently rules out single-market membership.