# What would freedom of movement mean for the UK in 2026?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/what-would-freedom-of-movement-mean-for-the-uk-in-2026/
- Published: 2026-11-03T12:13:29+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T05:41:16+00:00
- Original publisher: The Independent (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/freedom-of-movement-uk-brexit-eu-andy-burnham-b3078242.html
- Topics: Europe, Geopolitics, Government, Politics, UK, World

## Key points

- Burnham says a freedom of movement proposal is not planned for the upcoming summit.
- A deal could restore reciprocal work, study and residency rights.
- Net migration fell from 944,000 to around 171,000 after visa restrictions.

## Summary

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for an “honest discussion” about how Brexit has changed migration, prompting speculation about a possible UK-EU freedom of movement deal. He says he will not propose one at an upcoming summit, and has said any return to the previous arrangement would require a referendum. The issue matters because a deal would change how people from the UK and EU can live, work and travel across borders.

Freedom of movement would restore reciprocal rights for British citizens across the EU’s 27 member states and allow EU citizens to seek work in the UK without current salary thresholds or visa fees. It would also restore access to EHIC healthcare arrangements and pension coordination, while the UK could retain its own border controls outside Schengen. Net migration reached 944,000 in the year to March 2023, then fell to about 171,000 after visa restrictions were tightened; the article says Brexit changed where migrants came from rather than reducing arrivals as promised.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.