Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated openness to a future referendum on freedom of movement with the European Union, though no decision has been made. He emphasised that any changes to the UK's relationship with the EU would not occur without public consent, stating he would "never move ahead of the British public when it comes to Brexit." Burnham has ruled out major shifts before the next general election but plans to initiate discussions on potential options around the time of the EU summit next month.
Freedom of movement, which allows EU citizens to live and work across member states, remains a contentious issue since the 2016 Brexit campaign. Burnham supports an "honest discussion" on the topic but opposes rejoining the euro or Schengen agreements. He also highlighted that migration patterns have changed post-Brexit, with more permanent settlement. The Conservative and Reform UK parties oppose returning to free movement, while the Liberal Democrats argue it could boost economic growth.
Read the full story: BBC UK News.
Source: BBC UK News. Aggregated summary, not independent reporting.