Burnham calls for debate on EU free movement

Andy Burnham has called for an evidence-based discussion about the possibility of restoring free movement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, but has not announced a policy change. He said migration patterns had shifted since the UK’s EU membership and argued that past movement often involved younger people coming to Britain for a few years before returning home. Burnham said freedom of movement had brought significant challenges, while suggesting that some forms of migration at the time were less difficult than those experienced now. He described temporary movement in which people came and later returned as different from current patterns, and said the subject should be considered as part of a broader debate about Britain’s relationship with the EU. He has said he wants to consider a range of options for that relationship, potentially including EU membership or joining the single market, which would require free movement. Around a meeting with EU leaders in Brussels on November 20, he plans to set out options for the public. The year of the meeting was not specified. Burnham also said he could not see himself recommending that the UK join the euro or the...