Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he believes a "win-win" deal can be agreed with the European Union, adding it could be "more like the Brexit that people thought they were voting for" in 2016, the BBC reported.
He is exploring closer ties with the bloc and is expected to sign new agreements on food, energy and youth mobility at a U.K.-EU summit on Nov. 20. Speaking after meeting European leaders in Ireland on Thursday, Burnham said he hopes a deal could help lower prices and boost the U.K. economy. He predicted the negotiations could "go down to the wire." The Conservatives have previously said Labour are "dragging us into the European Union via the back door with their EU reset," the BBC reported.
While Burnham has argued that Brexit has done "more harm than good," he has ruled out major changes to the U.K.'s relationship with the EU before the next general election. Labour's 2024 general election manifesto pledged there would be "no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement," and Burnham has committed to this. The manifesto also said the party wanted to "make Brexit work" and reset the U.K.'s relationship with the EU. Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer struck a deal in May 2025 covering fishing, trade and other areas, and next week's summit will see the government seek to agree further changes.
Food checks, emissions trading, and a youth scheme
Burnham has also made clear he wants to examine the "pros and cons" of the options for Britain's long-term relationship with the bloc. Asked whether reopening that debate had helped or hindered the summit talks, he said, "I think it has helped," then added: "We've got a big week ahead of us to try and get this deal over the line. But let's be clear what's at stake: what we can achieve through this deal is lower prices for British consumers, lower costs for British businesses, more growth in our economy so there's really big prizes here, and I will fight now over the days to come to make sure we get this deal over the line."
Pressed on whether discounted university tuition fees for European students would be part of the deal, Burnham said "requests are coming from the European side, we are putting our requests on the table too." He added that he believes "there is a good deal to be done that could be a win-win for Britain and Europe." Ahead of the summit, the U.K. and EU agreed a draft deal on removing post-Brexit checks from food and agriculture exports. Similar texts for deals on emissions trading and a youth travel and work scheme have also been circulated to EU nations, the BBC reported. Those drafts, and Burnham's promise not to return to the single market before the next election, are the boundaries around whatever is signed on Nov. 20.