Rayner: Nothing off table in Burnham’s talks with European Union
Angela Rayner has spoken this morning
Nothing should be off the table in talks with the European Union, Angela Rayner said after Andy Burnham called for an “honest discussion” about a return to freedom of movement with the bloc.
The Prime Minister wants to consider various options for a new relationship with Brussels, potentially including a return to full EU membership or joining the single market – which would require free movement.
Mr Burnham will meet EU chiefs including European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on November 20 as he seeks to strike a better deal with the bloc.
But he also wants a discussion about the long-term future of the UK-EU relationship, 10 years after the country voted for Brexit.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said: “The Prime Minister is clear that you can’t take anything off the table when you’re having a conversation.
“But the Prime Minister is not saying we’re going back to where we were in 2016. He’s saying we’ve got to be pragmatic to get the best deal for Britain and he wants to have the conversation.”