Andy Burnham says UK has lost more than gained through Brexit

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that the United Kingdom has lost more than it gained since leaving the European Union, marking his latest public criticism of Brexit. Speaking at the Welsh Labour conference on Saturday, the prime minister outlined his goal to forge closer ties with Brussels and accused the Conservative Party of burning all bridges with the bloc following the 2016 referendum.

Mr Burnham is preparing for a UK-EU summit next week in Brussels, where he will meet European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on November 20. He hopes to secure agreements that could raise gross domestic product by 0.4 percent, amounting to roughly seventeen billion pounds. The discussions will cover a new deal on food and farming, emissions trading, and a youth mobility scheme, alongside exploring options for a different long-term relationship with Brussels.

The prime minister stated his ambition to lower the cost of living and support Welsh businesses, farmers, and exporters of lamb and shellfish. However, he reaffirmed his commitment to Labour manifesto red lines, which rule out returning to the single market, customs union, or free movement. While Mr Burnham has previously expressed openness to deeper integration, he emphasized on Saturday that voters remain the ultimate authority and that the government will respect both the referendum result and manifesto constraints.

The UK government is pursuing a new EU deal on food, farming, and trade to lower living costs.

Senior European figures have maintained a firm stance on access to bloc programs. Former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier recently stated that the United Kingdom cannot pick and choose individual freedoms without accepting the conditions of the single market. Meanwhile, the UK government has floated proposals to contribute toward industrial and electricity programs in exchange for specific sector access.

Why it matters

The upcoming summit and potential agreements could reshape trade, food prices, and travel arrangements between the United Kingdom and the European Union. By seeking targeted deals on agriculture, emissions, and youth mobility without crossing manifesto red lines, the administration aims to ease economic pressures while navigating post-Brexit political boundaries.