Rayner says ‘nothing off the table’ for Burnham to undo harms of Brexit
Angela Rayner said Andy Burnham should keep all options open as Labour considers how to improve the UK’s relationship with the EU and address Brexit’s effects. The discussion matters because it signals a possible shift towards considering closer ties, including arrangements that would involve free movement, although any change would depend on a future election.
Rayner said this did not mean returning to the UK’s 2016 position, but called for an evidence-based debate and a better deal for Britain. European Movement UK estimates Brexit has cost between £180bn and £240bn in foregone growth since 2020, while Best for Britain estimates annual tax receipts are about £40bn lower; the article also says UK exports have fallen by 20 per cent. Burnham has said Labour’s 2024 manifesto commitments remain in place, and the prime minister is due to meet EU leaders in Brussels on 20 November.
In short
- Rayner says Brexit options should remain open.
- Burnham has called for an evidence-based debate.
- Campaigners estimate major losses in growth and tax receipts.
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The case for
Keeping all options open could let Labour assess the evidence and pursue closer EU ties where they would improve trade, growth and public finances. Supporters argue that Brexit has carried substantial economic costs, so the UK should be willing to consider arrangements that address them, while deciding any major change through democratic debate and a future election.
The case against
Leaving Brexit-era arrangements intact, or ruling out options such as renewed free movement, may better respect the referendum result and the expectations of voters who supported greater national control over laws, borders and trade policy. Critics could also argue that estimates of Brexit’s economic costs are uncertain and that closer alignment might bring obligations or constraints whose effects should be weighed against any gains.
Explained simply
Brexit refers to the UK’s departure from the European Union, completed in 2020 after the 2016 referendum. It changed the rules governing trade and movement between the UK and EU, and the two sides have since agreed arrangements for their relationship.
Angela Rayner is a senior Labour politician, and Andy Burnham is the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester. Labour has said it wants to improve the UK’s relationship with the EU while keeping its 2024 election commitments; closer ties could involve difficult choices, including over rules on movement between countries.
The debate matters because Brexit’s effects on trade, economic growth and public finances remain disputed. Estimates of the costs vary, and the figures cited in the story come from campaign groups rather than a single agreed measure.