Burnham: Current Brexit Deal Fails to Protect Economy and Borders

The Prime Minister stated on Monday that the current agreement with the European Union is insufficient for the nation's needs. Andy Burnham told Good Morning Britain that the arrangement has not played out as intended by the public and has left the economy weaker than anticipated. He noted that the deal did not resolve the small boats crisis and has complicated border management.

Burnham described the outcome as a harder Brexit than what was proposed during the referendum campaign. He argued that leaving the EU has diminished the country's ability to control immigration. The Prime Minister said that the small boats crisis has increased because the UK can no longer return individuals to Europe as easily as it could before leaving the bloc. He stated, "I think we've got weaker control now. The reason the small boats crisis has arisen is because we can't return people and people know we can't do that in the same way that we used to be able to."

When asked if he wants Britain to rejoin the EU, Burnham said he would like to see it happen in his lifetime. However, he ruled out making that move in the current parliament. He emphasized that the British public must remain the decision-makers. "I am not going to move ahead of the public. I am not going to dictate in terms of my own opinions here, you have to make sure that the British public are the bosses," he said. He added that practical steps are needed to improve the current arrangement without abandoning Labour's manifesto red lines.

Burnham acknowledged the political risks of reopening the debate in constituencies that voted to leave. In his own seat of Makerfield, 65% of voters chose to exit the EU. He said he was not proposing a rerun of the referendum. He stated that the people of Makerfield would decide what happens next. "What I can do though is make practical steps to make the arrangements work better," he noted. He expressed hope that the UK-EU summit scheduled for November 20 would produce a deal that helps British food manufacturers, who have been hit hard by Brexit.

The Prime Minister supported the Home Secretary's plan to require foreign workers to wait 15 years for permanent residency. He said Shabana Mahmood was right to pursue the policy based on the principle that settlement is a right to be earned. He described the plan as a way to manage immigration effectively. He also ruled out an early general election, saying there was no election coming anytime soon. He told people to put that thought out of their minds.

Burnham discussed the upcoming budget, saying it would provide breathing space for people and businesses. He claimed the measures would give Britain a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. He maintained that the government's approach aims to fix the practical problems caused by the current deal without overhauling the fundamental status quo established by the 2016 vote.