UK Officials to Discuss Free Movement With EU Despite Labour’s Manifesto Pledge

News | By Matt, Editor

British officials will talk to Brussels about “the future options for our relationship”, including free movement, before the UK-EU summit on 20 November. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds confirmed it on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, saying no “assumptions” had been made. (BBC News)

Labour’s 2024 manifesto promised voters: “There will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.” (Labour Party manifesto 2024)

The news, without the gloss

Officials on both sides are expected to start discussing a range of options, free movement among them, ahead of next month’s summit. Downing Street insists the focus at the summit is on new deals in areas such as food and youth mobility, and Reynolds said current talks cover food and drink, electricity and emissions trading. Reynolds said Andy Burnham is “going to set that out after the summit”, meaning the long-term relationship, and be “frank with the British people about what the trade-offs are”. (BBC News)

Pressed on whether UK officials were talking to the EU about free movement, Reynolds said: “They will be talking to them about what the future options for our relationship might be.” The Telegraph, citing The Times, reports a source saying the “conversation is happening”. (BBC News; The Telegraph)

It follows Burnham’s Sunday Times interview on 25 October, in which he called for an “honest discussion” about returning to free movement and said a new relationship could mean joining the single market or full EU membership. The Guardian reported that he believed single market membership with free movement could be done without another referendum if Labour put it in its manifesto. (BBC News; The Guardian)

On Monday he went further the other way. Asked by broadcasters whether he could bring in free movement without a referendum, he said “no”. Within hours, sources told the BBC no decision had been made, and his deputy spokeswoman said the government would not “get ahead” of how to consult the public. (BBC News)

Burnham says he will keep Labour’s 2024 red lines for this parliament, which ends by 2029, and that any big change would need a general election mandate. The Telegraph reports No 10 has kept the door open to rejoining the EU without a referendum, after an election win. (BBC News; The Telegraph)

What they said then

Labour manifesto, June 2024. “With Labour, Britain will stay outside of the EU… That does not mean reopening the divisions of the past. There will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.” (Labour Party)

Jonathan Reynolds, 27 June 2024. “Labour will not be seeking to rejoin the single market or the customs union, or to reopen the wounds of the past because that wouldn’t give us the stability which we know is essential.” (PA via KentOnline)

Keir Starmer, House of Commons, 20 May 2025. “We had a clear red line in our manifesto on freedom of movement. We did that because we had a referendum, and at the heart of that referendum, or one of the key issues, was freedom of movement. Everybody made their case and the country voted to leave. We respect that and that is why we put the red line in.” (Hansard)

Andy Burnham, Labour conference, September 2025. “I want to rejoin. I hope in my lifetime I see this country rejoin the European Union.” (The Guardian)

Andy Burnham, Makerfield by-election campaign, 18 May 2026. “The last thing we should do right now is re-run those arguments… I am not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU. I respect the decision that was made at the referendum.” Makerfield voted about 66% Leave. (BBC News)

Four months later, as Prime Minister, he told Labour conference Brexit had done “more harm than good” and said it was “possible” a future Labour manifesto could promise a new in-out referendum. We covered that EU rejoin U-turn at the time. (BBC News)

What they’re saying now

Melanie Onn, Labour MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, 27 October 2026. “I don’t think that the scars have healed for many people around the country so I do think this is an unnecessary conversation to be having at this time.” She added: “Trust is incredibly important, it’s hard-earned and easily lost, and on this matter I think that we should tread incredibly carefully.” Onn lost her seat to the Conservatives in 2019 and won it back in 2024. (BBC News)

Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader, 27 October 2026. “Andy Burnham has no mandate to be in Brussels, to be negotiating any of this.” He called for a general election. On Radio 4 he said: “Two-and-a-half years ago, a Labour government got a massive majority in Parliament saying we will not be re-entering the single market, the customs union, or opening up a debate on the free movement of people.” (BBC News; RTÉ)

On Saturday, Farage called the free movement push “a total betrayal of Brexit Britain and his Makerfield pitch”, as we reported. On Monday he said Burnham “must not sign up to anything” at the 20 November summit “without at least putting those minor changes to a general election”. (The Guardian; BBC News)

Kemi Badenoch, Conservative leader, 25 October 2026. She called the idea of reopening free movement “another example of Burnham’s foot-in-mouth syndrome” and said he “hasn’t thought this through or the implications”. Reform’s Robert Jenrick called the idea “mad”. (The Guardian; BBC News)

Inside Labour, Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband back the debate. Red wall Labour MPs are alarmed. One told The Guardian it would “undoubtedly put seats at risk to Reform”. (The Guardian)

Downing Street, 26 October 2026. “The prime minister isn’t proposing a return to freedom of movement or any option… He is crucially not leaning either way and that will be for the British public to decide.” The same spokeswoman added: “The PM thinks the Brexit deal is not good enough.” (BBC News)

The record in numbers

Measure	Figure	Source
UK vote to Leave, 23 June 2016	17,410,742 (51.9%) to 16,141,241 Remain (48.1%), turnout 72.2%	BBC results, Electoral Commission count
North East Lincolnshire, which covers Grimsby	69.9% Leave (55,185 votes)	BBC results, Electoral Commission count
Makerfield, Burnham’s own seat	About 66% Leave	BBC News, May 2026
Net migration of EU citizens, 2015	184,000	ONS, May 2016
Net migration of EU+ nationals, 2025	Minus 42,000	ONS, May 2026
Total UK net migration, 2025	171,000, down from a 944,000 peak in the year to March 2023	ONS, May 2026
Next general election	Due by 2029	BBC News

Free movement lets any EU citizen live, work and study in any member country, and it is a precondition of single market membership. In 2015, the year before the referendum, EU net migration to Britain was estimated at 184,000. Since Brexit, more EU citizens have left than arrived. (BBC News; ONS; ONS)

The fair points

Burnham has not proposed free movement, and No 10 says he is “not leaning either way”. He has vowed to keep the 2024 red lines for this parliament and says any major change would need a general election mandate. He has also said: “I can’t see myself ever recommending anything that would involve joining the euro or Schengen.” (BBC News; BBC News; The Guardian)

The biggest migration surge came after Brexit, under the Conservatives’ points-based system, and it was mostly from outside the EU. Net migration hit 944,000 in the year to March 2023. Burnham argues EU migration was more “revolving door” than today’s. (ONS; BBC News)

None of that answers the question voters will ask. Labour won in 2024 on a written promise of no free movement. Its Prime Minister now wants to discuss bringing it back, his officials are talking options with Brussels, and No 10 cannot say whether the public would get a referendum. His own Business Secretary promised in 2024 not to “reopen the wounds of the past”. Burnham’s case that Brexit cost Britain control of its borders does not hold up either, as our small boats receipts show.

What happens next

Burnham goes to Brussels for the UK-EU summit on 20 November. Reynolds says the Prime Minister will set out the long-term options after it. Any move on free movement, the single market or the customs union would, on Burnham’s own words, need a general election mandate first. That election is due by 2029. Richard Tice has set out Reform’s answer: net zero immigration, not free movement. (BBC News)

Where this could be heading: the possible road to a U-turn

Analysis and opinion. No one in government has announced a U-turn, and No 10 says there is no plan for one. But put the receipts in order and one question is hard to avoid: is Labour publicly ruling out rejoining and free movement while laying the ground for them later? Here is how it could play out, if the pattern holds.

Step one: keep the red lines, for now. On 26 October Burnham ruled out rejoining in this parliament and said: “I’m not going to move away from the red lines that were in the Labour manifesto.” In the same round of interviews he said: “In my lifetime I would like to see that happen, but I am not going to move ahead of the public.” (The Guardian)

Step two: the “honest discussion”. A day earlier he told the Sunday Times free movement needed an “honest discussion”, and has said a new deal could mean going “all the way” and rejoining. Now Reynolds confirms officials are discussing “future options” with Brussels. (The Guardian; The Guardian)

Step three: the options paper. After the 20 November summit, Reynolds says, Burnham will set out the long-term relationship and be “frank with the British people about what the trade-offs are”. The summit itself is meant to tie Britain closer, with a food and drink deal, emissions trading and a youth experience scheme, on top of the return to Erasmus+ already agreed for 2027. (The Guardian; European Parliament research service)

Step four: the manifesto. Burnham says big change needs a general election mandate. The Guardian reports he believes single market membership, with free movement, could follow a manifesto pledge without a referendum, while full membership would need an in-out vote. In September he said a referendum pledge in a future manifesto was “possible”. That would make the 2029 manifesto the obvious vehicle. (The Guardian; BBC News)

The pressure behind it. A European Movement plan to rejoin by 2036, backed by Neil Kinnock among others, is being sent to the Prime Minister. YouGov found 52% would vote to rejoin and 27% to stay out, but 64% say any rejoin deal should go to a referendum first. (The Independent; YouGov)

What Labour says. No 10 says the Prime Minister “isn’t proposing a return to freedom of movement or any option” and is “not leaning either way”. Reynolds says: “The British people are the people who will decide this. They’re the boss on this.” (BBC News; The Guardian)

Perhaps. But Labour promised in writing there would be “no return” to free movement. If the next manifesto offers single market membership instead, Makerfield and Grimsby could get free movement back without ever being asked in a referendum. Honest discussion, or sleight of hand? Readers can judge.

Verdict

This is opinion, built on the record above.

Seventeen million people voted Leave, and free movement was at the heart of that vote. Starmer said so in the Commons. Labour put “no freedom of movement” in writing to win in 2024. Five months ago Burnham told Makerfield he would not re-run Brexit. Now his officials are discussing free movement with Brussels, and Downing Street cannot say whether voters would get the final word. When a Labour MP from one of the most heavily Leave areas in the country warns that trust is “easily lost”, it is not Brexiteers who are reopening the wounds.

Frequently asked questions

Is Britain going back to EU free movement?

Not now. Burnham says he will keep Labour’s 2024 red lines until the next election, due by 2029. But UK officials will discuss future options, including free movement, with the EU before the 20 November summit.

Would there be a referendum on free movement?

Unclear. Burnham said on 26 October he could not bring in free movement without one, but Downing Street then said no decision had been made. The Guardian reported he believed single market membership could follow a manifesto pledge without a referendum.

What did Labour’s 2024 manifesto say about free movement?

It said: “There will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.”

Is Labour planning a free movement U-turn?

Labour says not. No 10 says Burnham is not proposing a return to free movement and is “not leaning either way”. But he wants an “honest discussion”, officials are discussing future options with the EU, and he reportedly believes single market membership could follow a manifesto pledge, so the next election could decide it.

Sources

• BBC News, 27 October 2026: UK and EU officials to discuss freedom of movement
• BBC News, 26 October 2026: No 10 appears to backtrack on PM’s freedom of movement referendum suggestion
• BBC News, 25 October 2026: Burnham open to ‘honest discussion’ on EU free movement
• The Guardian, 25 October 2026: Cabinet ministers back Burnham’s call for debate on return to free movement with EU
• The Guardian, 27 October 2026: UK officials discussing options including free movement with EU ahead of summit
• The Guardian, 26 October 2026: No 10 clarifies Andy Burnham’s stance on freedom of movement
• The Guardian, 25 October 2026: Andy Burnham says he wants ‘honest discussion’ about freedom of movement with EU
• The Independent, 11 October 2026: Labour voters overwhelmingly want Andy Burnham to commit to rejoining the EU, poll shows
• YouGov, 8 October 2026: If the government decides to rejoin EU, Britons say there should be a referendum
• European Parliamentary Research Service, 2026: EU-UK relations: Mobility and youth opportunities
• The Telegraph, 26 October 2026: Burnham in retreat over EU freedom of movement
• The Independent, 26 October 2026: Burnham ‘not leaning either way’ on future ties with EU, No 10 says
• RTÉ, 27 October 2026: Burnham has ‘no mandate’ to reopen Brexit debate – Farage
• BBC News, 30 September 2026: Brexit referendum ‘possible’ in Labour election manifesto, says Andy Burnham
• BBC News live, 18 May 2026: Burnham pledges not to ‘re-run’ Brexit arguments
• The Guardian, 29 September 2025: Andy Burnham hits back at Labour critics over challenge to Starmer
• Hansard, 20 May 2025: UK-EU Summit
• PA via KentOnline, 27 June 2024: Changes to UK-EU relationship would not reopen Brexit wounds, says Reynolds
• Labour Party, 2024: Manifesto: Britain reconnected
• BBC News: EU referendum results
• BBC News: EU referendum local results: North East Lincolnshire
• ONS, 21 May 2026: Long-term international migration, provisional: year ending December 2025
• ONS, 26 May 2016: Migration Statistics Quarterly Report: May 2016