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Could Britain bring back freedom of movement with the EU? What we know
Prime minister Andy Burnham has called for an “honest discussion” about how Brexit has changed migration, prompting speculation that Britain could seek to restore freedom of movement with the EU. He denies planning to propose such a deal at an upcoming summit, and Labour’s Brexit commitments mean any move would likely wait until after the next general election.
A return would restore reciprocal rights for UK and EU citizens to live, work and study across each other’s territories, while Britain would probably remain outside the Schengen area. It would also bring back access to EHIC healthcare arrangements and pension coordination; stays over three months would still require people to meet conditions such as working, studying or being financially self-sufficient. Net migration reached 944,000 in the year to March 2023, then fell to about 171,000 after visa restrictions were tightened in 2024 and 2025.
In short
- Burnham denies planning to propose freedom of movement at the summit.
- Any return would likely wait until after the next general election.
- Net migration fell from 944,000 to about 171,000 after visa changes.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Restoring freedom of movement could give UK and EU citizens more choice to live, work and study across borders, while reviving reciprocal healthcare and pension arrangements. Supporters could argue that easier mobility would help people and businesses fill skills gaps, strengthen cultural and economic ties, and address some of the practical costs of Brexit.
The case against
Keeping the current system allows the UK to set migration rules through its own visa policies and adjust them to domestic priorities. Critics could argue that renewed free movement would reduce control over who can move to Britain and make it harder to respond to pressures on housing, public services and migration levels, even though the scale of those effects is uncertain.
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