Well, that trial balloon has probably popped.
Over the weekend, Andy Burnham suggested a strategic retreat from Brexit immigration and “freedom of movement” policies as part of his effort to negotiate what amounts to a semi/kinda/not quite reversal of Brexit.
The establishment in the U.K. has hated Brexit since it was floated, and has tried mightily to kill it. But despite its inconveniences, Brexit remains a political electrified fence that nobody, even in the Labour Party, wants to touch.
Burnham opens the door to having an “honest discussion” on free movement because, since Brexit, the nature of immigration into the UK has been “different” with more foreigners moving permanently rather than returning to their home countries.
https://t.co/jMYv3QH6ly— Brexitshambles (@brexit_sham) October 24, 2026
That’s why the Labour manifesto they ran on in 2024 explicitly promised not to touch Brexit, including rejoining the European freedom of movement agreement.
Yet Burnham, in an interview with the Times, floated the idea that he wanted to reverse those policies, as did others in his government.
Let’s just say the response was not friendly.
Andy Burnham has rowed back on comments he made opening the door to signing up to EU freedom of movement 🔗 https://t.co/8GNpHqtDpU https://t.co/ARvTwAL4P0
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) October 26, 2026
Burnham, who has been developing a reputation of having a tin ear on many issues (his reputation was exactly the opposite, and this proves that was an illusion created by the media), chose about the worst possible time to drop the stink bomb. As Europe has erupted in riots, Burnham suggests that Britain needs more of what came from.
THIS IS WHAT ANDY BURNHAM WANTS AN OPEN BORDER WITH. https://t.co/4IZWu4LOcL
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) October 25, 2026
Burnham is trying to reframe things, suggesting that a more open travel and migration policy would actually ease the illegal immigration problem, and perhaps, if Britons could trust him to cut a good deal, he might have a point. The problem is not that French or German tourists would have too easy a time visiting London; the problem is the “small boat” migrants streaming into Britain.
Andy Burnham blames Brexit for small boats crisis and ‘absolutely’ rules out early election
https://t.co/YMzafTVGp4— Mirror Politics (@MirrorPolitics) October 26, 2026
But of course, visa-free travel would open the borders to a flood of migrants streaming into European countries; sure, the small-boat problem would ease, because entry through the front door would be much easier. It’s hardly different from Biden throwing “asylum” at all comers and saying, “See, they are LEGALLY here, not illegal aliens!”
That’s actually worse, since it makes it even harder to kick them out.
‘Leaving the European Union was the biggest act of economic self harm any country has ever committed’ Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, told #BBCBreakfast Andy Burnham ‘is spot on’ about having an “honest discussion” ove the prospect of returning to free movement between the UK and European Union https://t.co/z4T5h3P4hr
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) October 26, 2026
Burnham will hold talks with the EU next month to renegotiate trade and other terms, which explains why he floated breaking Labour’s promises now. It gave him a sense of how much political room he has to advance his plans to reintegrate with Europe.
Nigel Farage says Andy Burnham has ‘no mandate’ to negotiate with the EU next month without an election. The Reform leader goes on to criticises the current government whilst presenting Reform UK’s “Economic Rescue Plan.” https://t.co/otk4ZQMiXZ 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/pjmWOw3I7b
— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 26, 2026
It turns out, not much. At least not much when it comes to anything that smells like open borders. That wasn’t just a red line in Labour’s manifesto; it is a red line for the British electorate.
The Reform UK conference hall today is awkwardly empty – both sides of the stage barely filled and behind the stage a few seats are still unfilled even on the front row Nigel Farage blames ‘staff incompetence’ for the turnout – signs of not an altogether happy party https://t.co/1YmbFu815o
— Serena Barker-Singh (@serenabarksing) October 26, 2026
Brexit was Europe’s first real populist victory, and Nigel Farage made his bones on pushing it through. His victory still seems popular, although scandals, real or imagined, have taken a serious hit to his personal popularity.
The lowest vote share for Reform that we have ever recorded 🔴 Labour: 26% (+1)
🔵 Conservatives: 21% (-1)
🟦 Reform UK: 20% (-2)
🟢 Greens: 13% (+2)
🟠 Lib Dems: 9% (-1) Implied turnout: 54% Changes from 14th October
[Find Out Now, 21-22nd October, N=2,381] https://t.co/YlkXOAxum9— Find Out Now (@FindoutnowUK) October 22, 2026
Even with Labour’s fairly low popularity ratings, its prospects of coming out on top in a hypothetical election would still be pretty good. As you probably recall, they polled quite badly in the last election but still won in a landslide because the opposition was split. Reform polled well but won only a few seats.
PollCheck projection of @Ipsos_in_the_UK poll: Labour: 359 (-52)
Conservative: 147 (+26)
Liberal Democrats: 50 (-22)
SNP: 31 (+22)
Reform UK: 25 (+20)
Others: 8 (+2)
Plaid Cymru: 7 (+3)
Green: 4 (=)
Restore Britain: 1 (new) Changes w/GE2024 https://t.co/4qv4BfDgmp— PollCheck (@poll_checker) October 25, 2026
So Burnham has some room to maneuver in many policy areas. But it seems immigration and free movement is not one of them.
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