Senior Labour figures have rallied behind Andy Burnham’s demand for an open debate on returning to free movement with the European Union, a move that could reshape the party’s stance on Europe while testing the patience of MPs whose constituencies still bear the imprint of the 2016 referendum.
Burnham’s proposal sparks cabinet debate
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signalled that the UK’s previous “red line” on free movement would be dropped, urging an “honest discussion” about the issue. Andy Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor and current shadow foreign secretary, echoed this sentiment, arguing that the migration landscape has shifted dramatically since the Brexit vote.
“Freedom of movement had very significant challenges associated with it and I spoke about them in my previous time in parliament. 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. The balance of migration has changed, hasn’t it, since then? I think we’ve just got to have an honest discussion about those things,” he told reporters.
Support and caution from within Labour
Housing secretary Angela Rayner swiftly endorsed Burnham’s position, describing his remarks as “just pragmatism” and stressing that the government must evaluate “what is the best deal for Britain” before ruling anything out. “It’s about what is the best deal for Britain and that’s what we are asking the public to look at. The prime minister is clear that you can’t take anything off the table when you’re having a conversation,” she told Sky News.
Stella Creasy, the Labour MP who chairs the Labour Movement for Europe, praised Burnham for championing a “grown‑up conversation” on how EU freedom of movement could affect supply chains and job prospects for British citizens. “He was right that the UK was long overdue for a grown‑up conversation about what EU freedom of movement actually means to our supply chains and for jobs for British citizens,” she said.
Foreign secretary Ed Miliband has also voiced support for a closer EU relationship, hinting that re‑engagement with the single market could become a realistic option if the political climate permits. In contrast, home secretary Shabana Mahmood warned that re‑joining the bloc would involve “quite hard trade‑offs”, noting that eliminating friction without “some of the burdens that also brings” would be “not a simple, straightforward thing”.
Red wall resistance and right‑wing backlash
Several Labour MPs representing the so‑called red wall – notably Jonathan Hinder of Pendle – have voiced unease, pressing the prime minister to rule out any return to free movement. Their reservations reflect lingering voter sentiment in traditionally Leave‑leaning areas.
Labour peer Richard Walker, who chairs Iceland, warned that reopening the debate would set a “dangerous precedent” and could jeopardise the “one million young people that are out of work”. “Opening the borders would not help the one million young people that are out of work,” he told Times Radio.
The Conservative and Reform UK parties seized on Burnham’s comments with swift criticism. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservatives, labelled the proposal “another example of Burnham’s foot‑in‑mouth syndrome”, adding that “most people who voted for Brexit did so because they didn’t want free movement”. Reform UK’s Nigel Farage went further, calling it a “total betrayal of Brexit Britain” and accusing Burnham of being “deluded” about immigration patterns while in the EU.
Polling data suggests a growing openness among the electorate toward a renewed EU tie‑up or a single‑market arrangement that includes free movement. The original Brexit referendum had centred on border control, yet net migration surged to a peak of roughly 900,000 in January 2020 under the post‑Brexit points‑based system, up from 330,000 before the vote.
Why it Matters
If Labour succeeds in normalising a dialogue about free movement, the party could rebuild its credibility on economic growth and international cooperation, potentially attracting swing voters in both urban and traditionally Leave‑supporting constituencies. Conversely, a misstep that reignites the Brexit debate may alienate red‑wall MPs and embolden hard‑line critics, jeopardising internal party cohesion and the broader push for progressive policy reforms. The outcome will therefore shape not only Labour’s electoral prospects but also the future direction of the UK’s relationship with Europe.
