Burnham’s push for closer EU ties faces tests over rules and politics

Andy Burnham is expected to use a UK-EU summit in Brussels on 20 November to pursue closer ties, as his openness to the UK one day rejoining the bloc raises difficult questions about rules, free movement and political support.

The summit is expected to produce agreements on food standards, emissions trading and youth visas. A person familiar with negotiations told the BBC the package was “90%” complete, while an EU source said the sides were still haggling over a proposed cap on youth visas: the EU had suggested 150,000 places and the UK 50,000.

Burnham has acknowledged the UK would have to follow more EU rules under closer alignment. The article reports that he has also presented rejoining as a long-term possibility, although the summit is not intended to decide whether the UK should return to the bloc.

That distinction matters: rejoining the single market would carry different obligations from the more limited agreements under discussion. Former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK could not choose which of the single market’s four freedoms to accept. Membership would mean free movement of people as well as goods, services and capital, and would not restore the UK’s former budget rebate. Barnier’s warning on the terms of a possible single-market return sets out that position.

The BBC reports that some business interests could favour closer ties, while others may be reluctant to revisit arrangements they have already changed since Brexit. It also cites support for rejoining among some Labour figures and other parties, alongside warnings from a former Labour minister that the issue could divide the party.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the expected deal, saying Burnham had revealed his negotiating position. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice accused him of trying to bring Britain back into the EU “via the back door”. The BBC’s account also notes that the prospect of rejoining would revive arguments over the cost of EU membership and immigration.

The summit’s agreements may offer an early indication of how far the UK and EU can move closer. They will not, by themselves, settle the more contentious question of whether the UK should seek to rejoin.