Andy Burnham to go ‘further and faster’ than Keir Starmer on Brexit reset
The U.K. prime minister is due to set out his vision for relations with the EU during a major speech on Tuesday.
LIVERPOOL, England — Andy Burnham's administration plans to forge "further and faster" connections with the European Union, according to his EU relations minister Hamish Falconer. Speaking at the party's conference in Liverpool on Monday, Falconer hinted that details of the prime minister's ambitious agenda would be revealed soon.
The minister emphasized that they aimed to conclude the round of talks initiated by Keir Starmer on agriculture, emissions trading, and youth visas at an upcoming summit, followed by the signing of a new "package" with the EU. Burnham, he suggested, views Europe as a critical issue for the U.K., expressing dissatisfaction with Brexit's outcomes.
Falconer reiterated that Burnham had been "explicit" about maintaining Brexit-related red lines, particularly concerning the single market, customs union, and freedom of movement. The Chancellor, John Healey, recently engaged with EU finance ministers in Dublin, advocating for greater involvement of UK businesses in the EU's Made in Europe industrial agenda and stronger ties in tech, defense, and manufacturing.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband echoed similar sentiments, describing the U.K.'s future as intertwined with Europe, stating that it encompasses broader interests ranging from climate to trade and defense.
However, the scheduled U.K.-EU summit for concluding ongoing talks remains undated, originally tentatively set for July but postponed due to the previous government's fall. UK officials seek EU assurances that British firms won't face new "Made in Europe" measures that potentially exclude third countries from EU contracts. Such guarantees are seemingly out of reach, as EU legislation is still evolving and subject to negotiations among member states.
Falconer expressed concern over the "Made in Europe" measures, emphasizing his focus on British industry's interests. Meanwhile, a coalition of European chambers of commerce representing trade with the U.K., including the British Chambers of Commerce from multiple European nations, has urged the European Commission, Council, and senior MEPs to incorporate the U.K. into any Made in Europe plans, citing decades of industrial collaboration, aligned regulatory standards, and robust commitments under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
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