Rayner and Burnham accused of Brexit Betrayal (Image: Daily Express)
Nigel Farage has hit out at a Brexit betrayal after an arch-Remainer and ally of Andy Burnham hinted she would back rejoining freedom of movement.
Reports emerged that Mr Burnham is open to heading back into the scheme, which allows for the free movement of people across and within the EU without migration controls.
That follows years of wrangling between Labour politicians and eurocrats seeking a “reset” of relations between London and Brussels.
The Prime Minister is due to attend the UK-EU summit next month as part of those talks, after the crunch meeting was delayed when Labour ousted their previous boss – Sir Keir Starmer.
Speaking on Sky News, Angela Rayner, an ardent Remainer and close ally of the Prime Minister, appeared to back plans to rejoin the scheme.
When repeatedly asked if she would support surrendering Britain’s immigration controls to Brussels, she initially attempted to sidestep the question.
Pressed on the matter, Ms Rayner said: “In terms of our future relationship with the EU, of course we should be having a conversation and understanding the facts of what could be possible.”
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The Labour Party has come under fire for attempting to cosy back up to Brussels after Mr Burnham performed a U-turn on commitments not to reopen the Brexit argument.
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Mr Burnham voted to Remain, campaigned to Remain, and demanded a second referendum when his side lost in the largest democratic vote in British history.
Speaking in 2025 at the Labour Party conference, he even said he wanted to see the country back in “in my lifetime”.
Yet he changed position during the Makerfield by-election, a seat which voted 65% to leave the EU, and chose to run away when challenged on his evolving stance by the Daily Express.
When speaking at the Labour Party conference this year, he changed position again, saying he would press ahead with his party’s long-touted desire to “reset” relations with eurocrats.
Over the weekend the Prime Minister appeared to go evern further.
He told the Sunday Times that an “honest discussion” was needed.
Mr Burnham said: “Freedom of movement had very significant challenges associated with it and I spoke about them in my previous time in parliament.
“But, at the same time, it was a type of immigration that perhaps wasn’t as difficult [as now].
“Revolving door migration where people would come and then go back is different.
The balance of migration has changed, hasn’t it, since then?
“I think we’ve just got to have an honest discussion about those things.”
Commenting online Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, wrote: “This is yet another example of Burnham’s foot in mouth syndrome.
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He hasn’t thought this through or the implications.”
She added: “Most people who voted for Brexit did so because they didn’t want free movement.
Too many politicians have failed to understand the significance and impact of immigration on communities.”
Veteran Brexiteer and Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage fumed that the Labour Party was staging a “total betrayal of Brexit Britain”.
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He added that Mr Burnham was also breaking his “Makerfield pitch”, a pledge he had made during the by-election where he said he would only work in the interests of his constituents.
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Mr Farage told the Daily Express that Mr Burnham was “deluded to say immigration was different when we were members of the EU”, pledging to “fight this dishonesty”.
The Daily Express has launched its ‘Give Us A Proper Brexit’ crusade, which calls for leaving the ECHR, a 12-mile border to protect British fishing waters and the cutting of EU red tape.
Labour has maintained that it is seeking to improve relationships with the trading bloc, which it says were harmed by bad deals struck by the previous Conservative Government.
“BREXIT BETRAYAL!” FARAGE GOES TO WAR AS BURNHAM AND RAYNER ARE CAUGHT IN A POLITICAL FIRESTORM OVER EU FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT!
Britain’s political landscape has been thrown into fresh turmoil following renewed calls for a debate about restoring freedom of movement between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Nigel Farage has reacted angrily to comments from Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner, accusing Labour figures of reopening the Brexit question and undermining the democratic decision made by millions of British voters in 2016.
The controversy has reignited one of the most divisive political arguments in modern British history. Nearly a decade after the referendum, the question of Britain’s relationship with Europe remains politically sensitive. While some politicians believe closer cooperation with Brussels is essential for economic growth, others insist that restoring freedom of movement would represent a fundamental reversal of Brexit.
For Farage, the issue is particularly important. The Reform UK leader has spent much of his political career campaigning against European integration and arguing that Britain should maintain control over its immigration system. He believes that any attempt to restore freedom of movement would undermine one of the central promises made to voters during the Brexit campaign.
Farage challenges Labour’s position
Farage has made clear that he intends to oppose any proposal that would allow EU citizens to move freely into Britain without the immigration restrictions introduced after Brexit.
His argument is that voters were promised greater control over Britain’s borders when they supported leaving the European Union. He believes that politicians who now suggest restoring freedom of movement are ignoring the concerns of people who voted Leave.
Reform UK has also argued that immigration levels must be determined by the British Government rather than influenced by membership of a European free-movement system.
Farage’s criticism places additional pressure on Labour, particularly in constituencies where Brexit remains an important political issue.
However, Labour figures supporting closer European cooperation argue that the economic consequences of Brexit deserve serious consideration. They believe Britain should be able to improve relations with its largest neighbouring trading bloc without necessarily abandoning the political decision to leave the EU.
Burnham calls for a fresh discussion
Andy Burnham has attracted attention after calling for a more open discussion about Britain’s relationship with Europe.
The Greater Manchester mayor has suggested that the country should examine whether restoring some form of freedom of movement could bring economic and social benefits.
Supporters of Burnham’s position argue that Brexit has created additional barriers for British businesses and workers. They point to difficulties involving trade administration, recruitment and opportunities for younger people seeking employment or education across Europe.
Burnham’s intervention has nevertheless raised questions about Labour’s existing commitments.
The party’s 2024 general election manifesto explicitly rejected restoring freedom of movement, rejoining the single market or returning to the EU customs union.
Consequently, any suggestion that Labour might reconsider these positions creates an obvious political challenge for the leadership.
Burnham has indicated that he is interested in examining the possibilities rather than immediately announcing a policy change. This distinction is important because discussing a potential arrangement is not the same as committing the Government to implementing it.
Rayner adds pressure to the debate
Angela Rayner has also contributed to the controversy by supporting a broader examination of Britain’s relationship with Brussels.
Her position reflects a view shared by some Labour politicians that the Government should adopt a more pragmatic approach to European relations.
Businesses operating across international borders have experienced additional administrative requirements since Brexit. Some employers have also raised concerns about recruitment difficulties and the availability of skilled workers.
Supporters of closer cooperation argue that reducing unnecessary barriers could improve economic opportunities and strengthen Britain’s competitiveness.
However, the possibility of restoring freedom of movement remains particularly controversial because it touches directly on immigration control.
For critics, it is not simply a question of improving trade relations. It involves deciding whether Britain should return to a system that allows EU citizens to live and work in the UK under reciprocal arrangements.
Why freedom of movement remains controversial
Before Brexit, freedom of movement allowed citizens of EU member states to live, work and study in other member states, subject to the relevant legal conditions.
British citizens enjoyed these rights across the European Union, while EU nationals could move to Britain under the same broad framework.
Supporters argued that the arrangement created opportunities for employment, education and economic growth.
However, critics raised concerns about population growth, pressure on housing and public services, and the ability of national governments to control immigration levels.
These disagreements became central to the 2016 referendum campaign.
For many Leave voters, ending freedom of movement represented an important way of restoring national sovereignty. They wanted immigration decisions to be based on Britain’s own rules and priorities.
Remain supporters, meanwhile, argued that free movement provided economic advantages and strengthened Britain’s position within Europe.
The disagreement has never completely disappeared.
Immigration, housing and public services
One of Farage’s central arguments is that immigration policy cannot be separated from the pressures experienced by local communities.
He argues that population growth can increase demand for housing, schools, healthcare and transport infrastructure.
These concerns are particularly important in areas where public services are already under pressure.
Supporters of stricter immigration controls believe that governments must ensure infrastructure and public services can accommodate population changes.
However, supporters of closer European cooperation argue that migration also contributes to economic activity. EU workers have played important roles in British healthcare, hospitality, agriculture, construction and other industries.
They point out that migrants contribute through employment, taxation and consumer spending.
The challenge for policymakers is therefore to examine both the economic benefits and the potential costs of migration rather than relying on political slogans.
Could Britain actually restore freedom of movement?
Restoring freedom of movement would require substantial negotiations with the European Union.
The UK would need to determine the precise legal arrangements, reciprocal rights and responsibilities involved.
The EU would also have to consider whether Britain could obtain access to free movement arrangements without accepting the wider obligations associated with its single market framework.
This is not a straightforward political decision that could be implemented through a simple announcement.
Any agreement would involve complex negotiations and potentially require changes to domestic legislation.
There would also be important questions concerning parliamentary approval and public consent.
Burnham has indicated that he does not intend to introduce freedom of movement without a democratic mandate. This suggests that the discussion is currently about the direction of future policy rather than an immediate change to immigration law.
A difficult choice for Labour
For Labour, the political challenge is considerable.
The Government wants to improve economic relations with Europe while maintaining its commitment to controlling immigration.
These objectives are not necessarily incompatible, but they can become difficult to reconcile when negotiations involve the movement of people.
Labour must also consider the views of voters who supported Brexit and remain concerned about immigration levels.
At the same time, the party faces pressure from businesses and economic organisations that want fewer barriers to trade and recruitment.
If Labour moves too far towards European integration, it risks alienating voters who expect the Government to respect the referendum result.
If it refuses to consider closer cooperation, critics may argue that it is ignoring opportunities to improve Britain’s economic performance.
Farage prepares for another Brexit battle
For Farage, the renewed debate offers an opportunity to place immigration and national sovereignty back at the centre of British politics.
He has consistently argued that Brexit should represent a lasting change in Britain’s relationship with the European Union rather than a temporary political arrangement.
Reform UK is likely to continue challenging Labour whenever senior politicians suggest that freedom of movement should be reconsidered.
However, the wider debate should not be reduced to a confrontation between political personalities.
The country needs clear answers about how different European arrangements would affect jobs, wages, housing, immigration and public services.
Ultimately, the controversy surrounding Burnham and Rayner demonstrates that Brexit remains an unresolved political question in the minds of many British voters.
The challenge for Labour is to explain how it can strengthen Britain’s relationship with Europe without abandoning its commitments on immigration control.
For Farage, the challenge is to defend the Brexit settlement while demonstrating how Britain can maintain economic opportunities outside the European Union.
The future of freedom of movement will therefore depend not only on political arguments but also on negotiations, legislation and public opinion.
One thing remains clear: Britain’s relationship with Europe will continue to shape its political debate for years to come. The question is whether the country wants closer integration, a more distant partnership or a carefully negotiated arrangement that combines economic cooperation with national control.