UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has expressed dissatisfaction with the current Brexit deal, arguing that it fails to adequately serve Britain’s interests. He contends that the agreement, which resulted in a harder Brexit than initially promised during the 2016 referendum, has weakened the UK economy and complicated the management of irregular migration. Despite these concerns, Burnham has ruled out major changes to the UK’s relationship with the European Union within the current parliamentary term.
Burnham highlighted that the Brexit arrangements have not delivered the expected benefits, particularly in terms of economic performance and immigration control. He noted that while he would like to see the UK rejoin the EU in his lifetime, any such decision should be driven by public opinion. For now, he is focused on improving existing arrangements rather than proposing re-entry into the EU.
On the issue of immigration, Burnham argued that leaving the EU has made it more difficult for the UK to return individuals who enter the country irregularly. He also expressed support for stricter settlement rules for foreign workers, emphasizing the principle that permanent residency should be earned rather than granted automatically.
Looking ahead, Burnham sees the upcoming UK-EU summit on November 20 as an opportunity to negotiate agreements that could benefit British food manufacturers and other businesses facing challenges due to Brexit-related trade barriers. His comments come amid ongoing debates within the government over its approach to Europe, with some Labour representatives from pro-Brexit constituencies concerned about reopening the discussion.
Burnham reiterated that the government would not seek to re-run the Brexit referendum, underscoring that any future decisions on the UK’s relationship with the EU should be determined by the electorate. Additionally, he ruled out the possibility of an early general election and emphasized that the forthcoming budget should aim to provide greater economic stability for households and businesses.