Overview
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham has opened a formal review of the UK‑EU relationship and said he would like to see Britain rejoin the EU in his lifetime while not moving on those choices within this Parliament.
- Burnham told Cabinet that collective responsibility applies and instructed ministers not to publicly advocate fixed post‑Brexit options during the period around the summit.
- Chancellor John Healey contradicted that push by saying freedom of movement is ruled out for this Parliament and that he does not expect the UK to rejoin the EU in his lifetime.
- Senior Labour backbenchers and reports of a sizeable group of Eurosceptic ministers have warned that reopening free movement or membership questions could harm trust in Leave‑voting areas and hand political ammo to rivals.
- The government plans to pursue pragmatic, sectoral deals at the November 20 Brussels summit on issues such as food and drink standards, emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme which could deliver short‑term gains even if deeper membership questions remain unresolved.