PM admits Brexit deal falls short of promises

The prime minister acknowledged on Monday that the current Brexit deal is not good enough for Britain.

Andy Burnham told Good Morning Britain that the post-referendum reality has not matched the promises made to the public during the campaign. He described the outcome as a harder Brexit than originally proposed, one that has weakened the national economy. Burnham specifically pointed to the small boats crisis as evidence that the UK has lost control over its borders. He explained that the country can no longer easily return people to Europe, a change that has altered the nature of immigration since the vote.

When asked directly if he wanted to rejoin the European Union, Burnham said he would like to see it happen in his lifetime. However, he stated that he would not move ahead of the public opinion. He emphasized that the British people must remain the bosses of the process. He noted that while he brought up the possibility of closer relations, he was not proposing a full return to the EU in the current parliament.

Burnham said he was not proposing to rerun the referendum, a stance he maintained despite 65% of his constituents in Makerfield voting to leave. He argued that the people of Makerfield would decide the future direction. Instead, he said he intended to take practical steps to make the existing arrangement work better. He added that he would not move away from the red lines set in Labour’s manifesto.

The prime minister backed the home secretary’s plan to require foreign workers to wait 15 years for permanent residency. He supported the principle that settlement should be a right earned rather than granted automatically. Shabana Mahmood’s controversial proposal aims to tighten immigration controls further. Burnham said the current system has weakened the UK's ability to manage migration flows effectively.

Looking ahead, the UK and the EU are scheduled to hold a summit on 20 November. Burnham hopes this meeting will produce a deal that benefits British food manufacturers. He stated that these businesses have been hit hard by the changes in trade rules. He described the upcoming budget as offering breathing space for people and businesses. He claimed the budget would provide a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel for the economy.

Burnham also ruled out calling an early general election, despite recent polling showing a rise in Labour's support. He told the public to put that idea out of their minds. He said the current focus remains on managing the existing political landscape and improving the practical outcomes of Brexit.