UK Prime Minister Burnham calls for debate on EU free movement policy

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he wants an open and honest debate about whether Britain should bring back freedom of movement with the European Union. He made these comments to the Sunday Times in October 2026.

Burnham said he wants the discussion to be based on facts and evidence. He admitted that free movement caused real problems in the past, but he said the situation has changed. He made a distinction between people who move temporarily for work and those who settle permanently.

He has also said Britain could rejoin the EU fully or join the single market. Both options would require free movement. A senior minister said that public opinion on this topic has shifted completely. Burnham recently visited German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin.