UK PM Andy Burnham vows to renegotiate post-Brexit trade deal with EU

What the report says

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in Parliament on Monday that his government will seek to reset relations with the European Union and renegotiate parts of the post-Brexit trade arrangement. Al Jazeera reported that Burnham confirmed he will travel to Brussels next month for a bilateral summit, where he plans to pursue a closer economic and political relationship with the bloc.

According to the report, Burnham said the talks would focus on measures meant to support growth and address illegal immigration. He pointed to possible changes affecting British food exports, emissions trading, a proposed youth experience scheme and deeper cooperation on migration. He also argued that some of the existing post-Brexit arrangements have damaged the UK economy.

Burnham told MPs that the British public would be “the boss” of the process and said he wanted serious dialogue on the UK’s long-term ties with the EU. He framed the approach as pragmatic rather than a return to the status quo. Al Jazeera noted that the prime minister took office in July.

The move matters because it signals a significant effort to revisit parts of the UK’s post-2016 settlement with the EU. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch responded that the EU is a tough negotiating partner and said Burnham had already revealed too much of his position.