Burnham says Conservative Brexit deal went beyond referendum promises
Andy Burnham said the Conservative Brexit deal was more restrictive than what voters were promised in the 2016 referendum, and argued it had harmed the UK. He has told ministers to avoid publicly backing specific options for future EU relations while the government reviews its approach.
Burnham’s plan has two stages: initial changes must stay within Labour’s 2024 manifesto commitments, including remaining outside the EU customs union and single market and not restoring free movement. He plans to discuss longer-term options after the next election, with fundamental changes left for the public and the next parliament to decide; he is due to attend a European summit next month.
In short
- Burnham says the Conservative deal created a harder Brexit than promised.
- Ministers are to avoid advocating specific future EU options.
- Larger changes would be considered after the next election.
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The case for
Burnham’s position can be defended on democratic grounds: voters were promised a less restrictive form of Brexit, so the government should be willing to reconsider arrangements that have harmed the UK. Keeping immediate changes within Labour’s manifesto respects the current mandate, while leaving more fundamental choices to the next election and parliament gives the public a say.
The case against
A cautious approach can be defended as respecting the 2016 vote and the political commitments made since: reopening the terms of Brexit risks creating uncertainty and diverting attention from other priorities. Staying outside the customs union and single market and ruling out free movement may also be seen as preserving the distinction voters chose, while ministers review practical improvements without signalling a wider reversal.
Explained simply
The UK voted to leave the European Union in a 2016 referendum, but the ballot paper did not set out the terms of departure. The Conservative government negotiated the deal that took the UK out of the EU and ended its membership of the single market and customs union, which had allowed goods to move with fewer checks and barriers.
Andy Burnham is the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, and Labour formed the government after the 2024 general election. Labour’s manifesto ruled out rejoining the EU, its customs union or single market, and restoring free movement, under which people can live and work across member countries. How far the UK should change its relationship with the EU matters for trade, migration and the balance between government decisions and public consent.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Tory Brexit was ‘harder’ than promised in EU referendum, says Andy Burnham”.