Burnham Says EU Deal Could Be a "Win-Win" for Britain
The prime minister says a new deal with the European Union could be closer to the Brexit voters expected in 2016. Andy Burnham says a "win-win" agreement can be reached ahead of a UK-EU summit on 20 November.
A summit with three agreements on the table
Burnham spoke on Thursday after meeting European leaders in Ireland. He said he hopes the deal can lower prices and lift the UK economy. He predicted the negotiations could run to the last minute.
The prime minister is expected to sign new agreements on food, energy and youth mobility at the summit. Asked whether reopening the debate on Britain's place in Europe had helped or hurt, Burnham said: "I think it has helped."
What is already drafted
The UK and the EU have settled a draft text to scrap post-Brexit checks on food and farm exports. Two more draft texts, on emissions trading and on a youth travel and work scheme, have been sent to EU countries. The government claims the changes would eventually be worth £5.1bn a year to the UK economy.
Asked whether discounted university tuition fees for European students could be part of the package, Burnham did not rule it in or out. He said requests are coming from the EU side and that the UK is tabling its own.
The limits Burnham has accepted
Burnham has argued that Brexit did more damage than benefit. Even so, he has ruled out major changes to the UK-EU relationship before the next general election. Labour's 2024 manifesto promised no return to the single market, the customs union or freedom of movement, and he has committed to that.
He also says he wants to weigh the advantages and drawbacks of the options for Britain's long-term relationship with the bloc. The earlier agreement, struck by Sir Keir Starmer in May 2025, covered fishing, trade and other areas. Next week's summit is meant to add further changes.
Opposition from every direction
The Conservatives have accused Labour of quietly pulling the country towards the EU. Dame Priti Patel said Burnham's fixation on the EU risks dragging Britain backwards. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said alignment with EU rules would set the country back.
From the other side, the Liberal Democrats called the draft deal a temporary patch rather than a real fix and want the UK to rejoin the single market and set up a customs union. The Green Party also wants the customs union, and leader Zack Polanski has said full EU membership remains the best option. Reform UK says one of the gains of Brexit is freedom from EU rules, and warns that any alignment may hurt Britain's trade policy.
Source: BBC News