Andy Burnham says UK-EU ties need "a more functional relationship again"

Andy Burnham has said the UK should not adopt EU freedom-of-movement rules without a referendum, after his weekend suggestion that the issue be revisited raised questions about how far he wants closer ties with Brussels to go. Asked on Monday whether Britain could join the EU’s movement scheme without a public vote, he said no. He said the topic needed careful public examination and favoured gradual measures to restore cooperation with the bloc. The comments came before a Nov. 20 summit in Brussels with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, where Burnham wants an arrangement benefiting farmers and food producers and greater immigration cooperation. He also said public consent would come first on Brexit; longer-term possibilities mentioned in the report include full EU membership or single-market membership, which would require free movement.