The debate over Britain’s relationship with the European Union has reemerged as a central issue within the Labour Party, driven in part by the renewed stance of Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester and a prominent Labour figure. As the UK prepares for the upcoming UK-EU summit in Brussels on November 20, Burnham has signaled openness to reconsidering Britain’s ties to Europe, including the possibility of restoring free movement, a position that marks a departure from current Labour leader Keir Starmer’s approach.
Under Starmer, the Labour government has focused on rebuilding ties with the EU while maintaining firm limits on freedom of movement, aiming for a relationship described by former minister Nick Thomas-Symonds as “as close as possible without freedom of movement.” Burnham, by contrast, has refrained from setting such boundaries, reflecting his broader political strategy to unite pro-European progressive voters across Britain.
Burnham argues that Brexit has significantly harmed the UK’s international standing and economic prospects, a view he believes is increasingly supported by public opinion, with surveys showing a majority of voters now regarding Brexit as a mistake. This contrasts with Starmer’s acceptance of Brexit as a settled issue, a position that helped secure Labour’s survival during the 2019 election, particularly following Boris Johnson’s successful campaign to “get Brexit done.”
However, the prospect of re-engagement with the EU raises complex questions about the nature of the bloc Britain might rejoin. The EU has undergone significant transformation since the 2015 migrant crisis and Brexit itself. The political landscape across Europe is marked by instability and division. Recent events such as France’s widespread civil unrest, the polarisation of its political leadership with right-wing figures like Marine Le Pen gaining prominence, and Germany’s fracturing political centre suggest a continent facing considerable challenges.
These developments have coincided with a marked decline in support for traditional centre-left parties that once aligned closely with Labour, such as the German Social Democrats and French Socialists, many of which have adopted more restrictive immigration policies. The once dominant vision of an open, borderless Europe has shifted in favor of national sovereignty and stricter border controls amid ongoing economic stagnation and concerns over integration.
Within this context, Burnham’s vision of renewing the UK’s EU relationship, especially through restoring free movement, faces significant political hurdles both domestically and abroad. Past experiences, such as the unanticipated migration surge following the EU’s 2004 enlargement—which former UKIP leader Nigel Farage has cited as a key factor contributing to Brexit’s momentum—highlight the sensitivity of immigration issues in British politics.
Labour’s leadership remains cautious, mindful of the party’s past electoral losses in traditional working-class areas that opposed free movement. While Burnham has sought to appeal to a broad progressive base, integrating elements of soft-left populism and nostalgic social democratic policies from earlier eras, his proposals risk reopening divisions within the party and the broader electorate.
As Britain grapples with low political trust and social tensions exacerbated by recent years’ upheavals, commentators suggest that reviving free movement and reopening the Brexit debate could further complicate national cohesion. Observers note that the EU Burnham aims to re-enter no longer exists in its former form, making any potential reintegration a complex and uncertain prospect at a time when political and economic stability in Europe is under strain.