UK PM Burnham opens door to debate on restoring EU free movement

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he is open to debating a return to European Union free movement rules, in an interview published Sunday — a significant shift in tone ahead of a planned UK-EU summit in Brussels on 20 November.

Burnham told the Sunday Times the composition of immigration to Britain had changed since Brexit. He said "we simply need to discuss this openly and honestly" and called for the conversation to be conducted on the basis of facts.

The prime minister was less forthcoming on other aspects of EU re-alignment. He said he would not recommend joining the Schengen passport-free travel zone to parliament, and ruled out adopting the euro.

Burnham has repeatedly argued that Brexit has left Britain worse off. The 20 November Brussels summit is expected to advance a series of planned agreements, including arrangements on food and drink trade, emissions trading and migration cooperation.