British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in a Sunday Times interview that he wants an honest discussion about restoring freedom of movement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, several outlets reported on Sunday^2,3,5.

Burnham, who took office in June, said pre-Brexit EU migration had significant challenges but was a revolving-door pattern in which many people later left, unlike more permanent post-Brexit inflows^2,3. He said he would not jump to a firm position yet and that remaining outside free movement would not be a red line in talks^2,3.

He also said he could not see recommending joining the euro or the Schengen passport-free travel area^1,2. Politico Europe noted the comments diverge from Labour's 2024 manifesto, which ruled out returning to the single market, customs union or free movement². The BBC reported he has said any such change would need a mandate at a general election due by 2029¹.

The remarks come ahead of a Nov. 20 U.K.-EU leaders' summit where officials hope to advance agreements on trade and other files^2,5. Burnham has recently discussed options ranging from a closer partnership to rejoining the single market or the EU itself^1,3. Al Jazeera reported he told The Sunday Times that lost data cooperation, including Eurodac, should be considered alongside movement rules⁵.

The BBC said housing secretary Angela Rayner told its Sunday program that you cannot take anything off the table, and that Burnham was calling for pragmatism to get the best deal¹.

Opposition figures criticized the idea. The BBC said Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argued Burnham had not thought it through and Reform UK's Robert Jenrick called it mad¹. Al Jazeera said Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the comments a total betrayal of Brexit Britain⁵.

Al Jazeera, citing the Office for National Statistics, said long-term net migration nearly halved to 171,000 in 2025 from 331,000 a year earlier⁵. Sky News said net migration initially rose after Brexit under a points-based visa system before falling in recent months³. Whether talks produce a formal free-movement proposal remains unknown.