UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has expressed dissatisfaction with the current Brexit agreement, stating it does not meet the expectations set during the 2016 referendum. He argues that the deal has weakened the UK’s economy and complicated immigration control efforts. However, Burnham has ruled out any major changes to the UK’s relationship with the European Union during the current parliamentary term.
Burnham criticized the “harder” Brexit outcome, noting that it failed to deliver anticipated benefits, particularly in economic performance and immigration. When asked about the possibility of rejoining the EU, he indicated openness to the idea in the future but emphasized that any decision should align with the public’s wishes. For now, he plans to focus on improving existing arrangements rather than pursuing EU membership.
On the immigration front, Burnham pointed out that Brexit has made it more challenging to manage irregular entries into the UK. He also supported stricter rules for granting permanent residency to foreign workers, advocating for an approach where residency is earned.
Looking ahead to the UK-EU summit on November 20, Burnham sees potential for reaching agreements that could benefit British industries, such as food manufacturing, which have been impacted by trade barriers post-Brexit.
His remarks come amid ongoing debates within the government about its European strategy. Some Labour representatives from pro-Brexit constituencies worry that revisiting the Brexit debate might provide political leverage to rival parties. Burnham reiterated that the government would not pursue another Brexit referendum and underscored the importance of public input on the UK’s future EU relations.
Furthermore, Burnham dismissed the possibility of an early general election and emphasized the need for the upcoming budget to provide economic stability for households and businesses.