UK PM Burnham says he wants to discuss a return to EU freedom of movement

What the report says

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he wants a public discussion about whether the UK should restore European Union freedom of movement for workers, an issue that was central to the 2016 Brexit vote. In comments to The Sunday Times, as reported by Al Jazeera on 25 October 2026, Burnham said the nature of immigration into Britain has changed since Brexit and argued that the country should have an “honest discussion” about those changes.

Burnham linked the idea to a wider review of the UK’s relationship with Brussels, saying any reset should also consider migration policy and data-sharing cooperation. He pointed to the loss of participation in EU migration data systems as part of what Britain gave up after leaving the bloc. The article says he has previously suggested Brexit caused “more harm than good” and has even raised the possibility of Britain one day applying to rejoin the EU.

The report also notes that net migration to the UK nearly halved in 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics, falling from the previous year after tougher post-Brexit immigration rules. Burnham’s remarks drew a sharp response from Nigel Farage of Reform UK, who described them as a betrayal of Brexit. The discussion matters because immigration remains politically sensitive in Britain, and Burnham is expected to meet senior EU officials at a summit on 20 November.