Prime Minister Andy Burnham welcomed an “honest discussion” about the possibility of restoring free movement of persons between the United Kingdom and the European Union. He made the comments in an interview for the Sunday edition of The Times. Burnham, who took office as Labour leader and prime minister in July, has said that the United Kingdom is dissatisfied with the current state of its relationship with the EU. He has described the Brexit process as having caused more harm than benefit and has suggested that re‑entry into the EU could be one of several future options. According to The Guardian, Burnham is weighing a range of possibilities ahead of the November summit in Brussels. These include: Access to the EU single market – which would require agreement on the free movement of persons, one of the four core freedoms of the EU (the others being the movement of goods, services and capital). Membership of an EU customs union – which would also involve accepting certain EU rules. Burnham noted that opposition to the free movement of persons was a key factor in the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the EU. He said that while free movement had brought significant challenges, the pattern of migration has changed since Brexit, with more foreigners settling permanently in the UK rather than returning to their home countries. On border controls, Burnham said: “I think we need to have an objective discussion that is based on concrete facts and evidence.” In a September interview with the BBC, he hinted that the UK might “go all the way” in an effort to re‑join the EU. However, in more recent statements he has made it clear that he cannot imagine recommending that the UK join the Schengen area without border controls or abandon the pound in favour of the euro. The official UK‑EU summit will take place in Brussels on 20 November. Burnham sees the event as an opportunity to discuss the possibility of deepening relations. The summit was originally scheduled for July but was postponed after the resignation of his predecessor, Keir Starmer. Burnham is currently bound by Starmer’s 2024 election manifesto, which excluded entry into a customs union, a return to the single market, or the restoration of free movement of persons. The Guardian predicts that any substantial change in the UK‑EU relationship is likely to come only after the elections expected in 2029.