Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has publicly advocated for a national discussion concerning the UK’s future relationship with the European Union. Burnham suggested that the government should engage the public in an 'honest discussion' about the trade-offs involved in re-establishing closer ties with Brussels, specifically highlighting the issue of freedom of movement.

Burnham outlined a spectrum of potential future relationships between the UK and the EU. At one end of this spectrum, he noted the possibility of the UK pursuing full re-entry into the European Union. At the other end, he suggested more limited arrangements, such as joining the EU customs union or re-entering the single market. Burnham acknowledged that both of these intermediate options would likely necessitate a return to freedom of movement policies, a point he believes requires transparent public debate.

While Burnham is pushing for this dialogue, the current government's stance remains a point of focus. The Prime Minister has expressed a desire to revisit the UK-EU relationship, though the specific parameters of such a deal remain under development. Burnham’s comments serve to test the political waters regarding the public's appetite for reversing post-Brexit migration policies in exchange for improved economic access to the European market.