Burnham says EU food ties could ease supermarket price pressure

Andy Burnham said closer food and farming ties with the European Union could ease pressure on supermarket prices, as the UK prepares to sign a series of agreements with the bloc in Brussels on November 20. The agreements are planned to address trade barriers on food and farming, emissions trading, and opportunities for young people to live, work and study in the UK and EU.

Burnham said reducing red tape on food moving into and out of the country could help families and make life easier for farmers and food producers. He presented the proposed deals as practical steps toward closer cooperation, while saying the Brussels summit need not mark the limit of future UK-EU engagement.

The claimed price benefit remains a forecast. The reports provide no signed agreement text or evidence of an effect on household food prices. The final terms and implementation arrangements will determine whether the proposed changes reduce trade procedures as Burnham described.

Burnham also said closer cooperation with Europe could support economic growth, improve security and provide more tools to address illegal migration. Government sources suggested that restoring UK access to an EU migration database...