Senior cabinet ministers have thrown their support behind Andy Burnham’s proposal for the UK to evaluate a potential return to European Union free movement, though the move threatens to spark apprehension among fellow red wall lawmakers.
In a recent interview, the prime minister pressed for an honest discussion regarding free movement and signaled that excluding the policy from future negotiations with Brussels is no longer a strict red line.
Burnham acknowledged that freedom of movement previously involved significant challenges that he addressed during his prior parliamentary tenure, but noted that the nature of migration differed in comparison to current patterns.
Describing revolving-door migration as distinct, Burnham argued that the broader balance of immigration has shifted and requires an honest, open assessment by the public and officials. But, at the same time, it was a type of immigration that perhaps wasn’t as difficult [as now]. “Revolving-door migration where people would come and then go back is different.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner echoed this sentiment in a television interview, characterising the approach as pure pragmatism focused on securing the best possible arrangement for Britain. She said: “It’s about what is the best deal for Britain and that’s what we are asking the public to look at.
Rayner emphasised that the leadership remains committed to keeping all options on the table during ongoing dialogue with European counterparts.
Stella Creasy, a Labour MP and chair of the Labour Movement for Europe, asserted that the country is long overdue for a mature conversation regarding the impact of EU freedom of movement on national supply chains and employment opportunities for British citizens.
Several senior cabinet figures are eager to forge a closer partnership with the EU to stimulate economic growth, an ambition that could involve re-entering the single market and accepting freedom of movement. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is reportedly among those supporting the renewed discussion.
Conversely, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has maintained a more cautious stance, cautioning at a conference event that rejoining the EU would not be straightforward and would entail difficult trade-offs to eliminate trade friction without incurring extra burdens.
Lawmakers holding tightly pro-Brexit seats across northern and midlands red wall constituencies remain wary of reopening the debate, with figures like Pendle MP Jonathan Hinder having previously urged the prime minister in parliament to rule out any return to free movement. The prime minister is clear that you can’t take anything off the table when you’re having a conversation.”. With the Conservatives and Reform UK criticising the idea of reopening the debate, burnham’s comments drew an immediate response from the right of politics. Most people who voted for Brexit did so because they didn’t want free movement.
Additional skepticism came from Iceland executive chair and Labour peer Richard Walker, who warned via radio that restarting the discussion sets a dangerous precedent and fails to assist the one million young people currently out of work.
Political opponents swiftly condemned the remarks, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissing the proposition on social media as another instance of foot-in-mouth syndrome that disregards the genuine community impact of immigration. She posted on social media: “He hasn’t thought this through or the implications.
Badenoch argued that past governments promised border control but failed to deliver, concluding that the country should learn from those mistakes rather than reinstate free movement.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage similarly denounced the statements as a total betrayal of Brexit voters and a departure from previous positions, pledging to challenge the approach.
Recent polling indicates that public openness toward rejoining the EU or a single market framework incorporating free movement has grown since the historic referendum, which initially centered heavily on border control arguments.
Following the 2016 vote to exit the bloc, net migration subsequently climbed to a peak of approximately 900,000 in January 2020 under a new points-based system, compared with 330,000 prior to the referendum.
