UK Officials Discuss EU Relationship Options Including Free Movement Ahead of November Summit
UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says officials have begun talks with the EU on future relationship options, including free movement, ahead of a November summit.
The story in focus
UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said British officials have started discussions with the EU about future relationship options that could include free movement. He said the focus remains a November summit on trade and youth mobility, and that voters will decide any next steps.
- Reynolds said officials are discussing future relationship options with the EU, including a possible return to free movement.
- The immediate focus is a November EU summit to ease some trading restrictions and secure a youth mobility deal.
- Reynolds said no decision will be made without voters having a say, without specifying a general election or referendum.
- Labour MP Melanie Onn and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage opposed reopening the free movement debate.
Talks and summit focus
British officials have begun discussions with the EU about a long-term relationship that could include a return to free movement, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the focus for negotiations is the EU summit in November, where an agreement is sought to ease some trading restrictions and a youth mobility deal.
Reynolds said Prime Minister Andy Burnham wants a long-term and stable relationship with the bloc. According to Reynolds, officials will discuss what future relationship options might be, but the immediate priority is the summit and the changes it is expected to deliver, including a food and drink deal and emissions trading. Burnham is expected to set out the long-term approach after the summit and to be frank about trade-offs, Reynolds added.
No decision without voters, opposition voiced
Reynolds said no assumptions have been made about the next stage and that no decision would be made without voters having a say. He did not specify whether that would be through a general election or a referendum, saying the British people are 'the boss' on the issue.
Some backbenchers with heavily pro-Brexit seats in the north and Midlands are wary of reopening arguments over free movement or rejoining the EU. Labour MP Melanie Onn told Today that the scars from the post-referendum debate have not healed for many people and called the conversation unnecessary at this time. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said it would be 'very, very poor indeed' to begin discussing freedom of movement, arguing the prime minister has no mandate for such talks.
What did UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds say about free movement talks with the EU?
Reynolds said British officials have begun discussions with the EU about future relationship options that could include free movement. He said the focus remains a November summit on trade and youth mobility, and voters will decide any next steps.
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