A top Eurocrat admits many in Brussels are still ‘traumatised’ by Brexit – weeks before Andy Burnham heads for talks amid fury over free movement.
Burnham heads to Brussels this month (Image: Getty)
Brussels is still nursing its Brexit wounds, a top Eurocrat has admitted, just weeks before Andy Burnham heads cap in hand to reset relations with the bloc Kaja Kallas, vice-president of the European Commission, said many EU officials remain traumatised by Britain’s decision to walk out a decade ago. The extraordinary admission comes as the Prime Minister flirts with bringing back EU freedom of movement, sparking fury among Leave voters.
Mr Burnham will travel to Brussels later this month for delayed talks as part of Labour’s push to get closer to the bloc. Ms Kallas made the remarks at a joint press conference with Defence Secretary Wes Streeting. She said: “It is up to any agreement, and first of all, what the UK people are wishing to see, but at the same time, I must also say that there are a lot of traumatised people from Brexit here in the European Union.”
Her comments raise awkward questions over just how much Brussels will demand in return for any deal. An ardent Remainer, Mr Burnham has said he wants to see Britain back in the EU “in my lifetime”. He has suggested nothing is off the table in reshaping Britain’s long-term relationship with Brussels, from the customs union and single market to full membership.
Last month he sparked a furious backlash when he told The Sunday Times he wanted a “very factual, quite evidence-based debate” on free movement.
Nigel Farage branded it a “betrayal” of the 17.4 million Britons who voted Leave.
Days later, the Prime Minister insisted he would not take Britain back into free movement without a referendum, vowing to “never move ahead of the British public when it comes to Brexit”.
Nigel Farage slams Andy Burnham over Brexit betrayal
But within hours, his own spin doctors were desperately rowing back.
A No 10 spokeswoman said: “So, the Prime Minister isn’t proposing a return to freedom of movement, or any option. He is saying that it’s time for us to discuss what kind of long-term relationship with Europe is best for Britain, and he is referring to the types of areas that that agreement and long-term future could cover.”
She added: “He is crucially not leaning either way, and that will be for the British public to decide.”
Mr Burnham has ruled out rejoining the EU in this Parliament, but has signalled he could fight the next general election on a promise to take Britain back into the bloc.
The bewildering U-turns will fuel fears among Brexit voters that the Prime Minister is quietly preparing the ground for a return to Brussels.
Farage: free movement a ‘betrayal’ (Image: Getty)
Von der Leyen hosts Burnham on Nov 20 (Image: Getty)
Mr Burnham will meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on November 20.
The two sides hope to sign off a new food and drink agreement, a pact on emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme letting young Europeans live and work in Britain.
Brexiteers have long warned the youth scheme could become free movement by the back door.
Mr Burnham has also vowed to raise concerns over the EU’s protectionist “Made in Europe” trade rules, amid fears they could lock British manufacturers out.
But the Prime Minister’s flirtation with free movement has rattled his own MPs.
Labour’s Melanie Onn, MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, warned her party’s 2024 manifesto had promised “no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement”.
She said: “Political trust is hard won and easily lost.”