Full Breakdown
Andy Burnham Calls Current Brexit Deal “Not Good Enough” and Urges Stronger Border Controls
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Labour leader Andy Burnham told ITV’s *Good Morning Britain* that the United Kingdom’s post-Brexit arrangement with the EU has “weaker control” over immigration and has contributed to the “small boats crisis” because the UK can no longer return people to Europe as it once did. Burnham also ruled out any move to re-join the EU in the current Parliament and said an early general election is “not coming anytime soon.”
Background & Context
Since the 2020 withdrawal, the UK has operated under a “harder Brexit” than was promoted during the 2016 referendum, a point highlighted by the prime minister, who said the outcome has weakened the economy and border-control capacity. Labour’s manifesto red lines on immigration remain unchanged, and Burnham’s comments come amid speculation that a “Burnham bounce” in polls could pressure the party to revisit Brexit policy.
Official Statements & Responses
- Burnham emphasized that “we’ve got weaker control now” and linked this to the rise in small-boat arrivals, arguing that the inability to send migrants back to the EU has altered the immigration landscape.
- He reiterated support for the Home Secretary’s plan requiring foreign workers to wait 15 years for permanent residency, describing settlement as “a right to be earned.”
- The prime minister countered that the UK faces a “harder Brexit than was proposed” and that the current deal has not helped control the small-boat issue.
- Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said nothing should be off the table in next month’s talks, while Housing Secretary the prime minister (as quoted) stressed that discussions remain open.
What’s Next
Burnham is scheduled to meet EU leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, at a UK-EU summit on November 20. He hopes the talks will yield a deal that benefits British food manufacturers and improves the overall Brexit arrangement. No election is planned in the near term, and Burnham says any further steps will be guided by public opinion rather than parliamentary maneuvering.
