Andy Burnham is eyeing closer ties with the EU (Image: Getty)
Andy Burnham has been warned against striking a Norway-style deal with the EU by the country’s premier. Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre said the UK should not follow his nation’s example by signing up to free market access without being a full member as you become rule-taker.
He told Politico: “After Brexit, British friends called me and said, tell us about the Norwegian way of doing it. And I said, if you left the EU because there was too much Brussels, don’t take the Norwegian version. Because here, you know, basically we are taking most of their decisions, we implement them.”
Norway’s PM issues warning over EU relationship (Image: Getty)
It comes as the Prime Minister is due to sign a series of deals with the EU later this month at a joint summit in Brussels. And Mr Burnham, who has said he wants to see Britain rejoin in his lifetime, is looking at options for the long-term relationship with the bloc.
However, any major change would have to come after the next general election, as he has committed to Labour’s 2024 red lines of not returning to the single market, the customs union or freedom of movement. Speaking over the weekend, he told the Mirror: “It pays to have a good relationship with your neighbours, and the practical deals we are agreeing with Europe will pay off for families across the UK
“Cutting red tape on food coming in and out of the country will ease pressure on prices at the supermarket, while making life easier for farmers and food producers. This summit will show what we can achieve when we work together, but it doesn’t need to be the end of our ambition.
“Working more closely with Europe could drive growth, make our country safer and give us more tools to tackle illegal migration. That’s a conversation worth having.”
But the EU’s former chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has insisted there would be “no cherry-picking”.
Referring to the four freedoms of goods, movement of people, services and capital, he told the BBC: “There will be no possibility to have one freedom and not the other.
“The four freedoms are clearly the four conditions to be inside the single market.”
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Andy Burnham Issued Blunt EU Warning by Norway’s PM: ‘Don’t Follow Our Example’
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has received a blunt warning from Norway’s Prime Minister over his plans to rebuild Britain’s relationship with the European Union, raising fresh questions about the future of Brexit and the direction of Labour’s European policy.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has warned Britain against adopting Norway’s model of cooperation with Brussels, arguing that it involves accepting many European Union rules without having a direct vote on the decisions behind them.
His intervention comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Burnham, who has repeatedly suggested that Britain should consider a much closer relationship with Europe, potentially including rejoining the European Union in the future.
The Norwegian leader’s comments could complicate Burnham’s efforts to present a new approach to Brexit. While the British Prime Minister believes closer cooperation could strengthen the economy and improve national security, Støre has highlighted the disadvantages of remaining outside the EU while continuing to follow many of its regulations.
The warning has also reignited the political debate over whether Britain should pursue a Norway-style arrangement, negotiate a closer trade relationship or eventually seek full membership of the European Union.
Norway’s Prime Minister Delivers a Direct Warning
Speaking in an interview with Politico on 9 November 2026, Jonas Gahr Støre explained why he would not recommend Norway’s relationship with the European Union as a model for Britain.
Norway is not an EU member, but it participates in the European single market through the European Economic Area (EEA).
This arrangement provides Norwegian businesses with access to much of the European market, allowing them to trade under common rules. However, Norway must also adopt a substantial amount of EU legislation without having the same voting rights as full member states.
Støre recalled that British politicians had contacted him following Brexit to ask about the Norwegian model.
His response was particularly revealing. He warned that if Britain had left the EU because it wanted to escape excessive influence from Brussels, adopting Norway’s arrangement would not necessarily solve that problem.
He explained that Norway effectively accepts and implements many European decisions despite not being represented as a full EU member.
The Norwegian Prime Minister also emphasised that his country is much smaller than Britain and has historically operated as an unusually open economy.
For that reason, he believes the Norwegian arrangement works for Norway but may not be appropriate for the United Kingdom.
His warning places Burnham in a difficult position as he attempts to identify a future relationship with Europe that delivers economic benefits without creating another major political controversy.
Why the Norway Model Could Be a Problem for Britain
Norway’s relationship with the EU is often presented as a compromise between full membership and complete separation.
The country remains outside the European Union’s political institutions but enjoys access to the single market through the EEA agreement.
However, this arrangement comes with significant responsibilities.
Norway must follow many EU regulations covering employment, competition, environmental protection, product standards and other areas of economic activity.
It also contributes financially to European programmes and accepts the principle of free movement within the EEA framework.
The main disadvantage is that Norway does not have the same formal voting rights as EU member states when European legislation is adopted.
This creates what is often described as a democratic deficit.
For Britain, which voted to leave the EU partly because of concerns about national sovereignty and democratic control, such an arrangement could prove politically difficult.
Burnham would need to explain why Britain should accept rules it cannot directly shape in exchange for better access to European markets.
The size and influence of the British economy also make the comparison complicated. Britain has a much larger population and a different economic structure from Norway.
Støre’s argument is therefore that the UK should carefully consider its own circumstances rather than simply copying an arrangement designed for a much smaller country.
Andy Burnham Wants a Closer Relationship With Brussels
Burnham has become increasingly vocal about the economic and political consequences of Brexit.
He has argued that Britain’s departure from the European Union damaged trade, weakened economic opportunities and made cooperation on immigration and security more difficult.
The Prime Minister has also suggested that Britain should consider all possible long-term arrangements with Europe, including eventual full membership.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference in September 2026, Burnham argued that Brexit had failed to deliver the economic benefits promised by its supporters.
He said Britain should examine whether a closer relationship with European partners could improve economic growth and strengthen national security.
However, he has also insisted that major changes will require public discussion and cannot simply be imposed by the government.
His immediate priority is to secure practical agreements with Brussels that could make trade easier for British businesses.
A UK-EU summit scheduled for 20 November 2026 is expected to be an important opportunity to discuss these arrangements.
Potential areas of cooperation include food and agricultural trade, youth mobility and emissions trading.
Burnham believes these agreements could reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and help British companies compete more effectively in European markets.
Nevertheless, the Norwegian warning demonstrates that closer economic integration may involve accepting obligations that could become politically controversial at home.