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Rayner defends EU free movement talks as Labour faces 'betrayal' accusations
Labour's Angela Rayner claims EU free movement return will 'bring country together' amid accusations of 'betrayal' and 'hammer blow' to jobless Britons.
In brief
Labour's Angela Rayner claims EU free movement return will 'bring country together' amid accusations of 'betrayal' and 'hammer blow' to jobless Britons. Labour's Housing Secretary Angela Rayner defended the Prime Minister's call for an 'honest conversation' about returning to EU free movement rules as critics accused…
Rayner defends EU free movement talks
Angela Rayner today defended the Prime Minister's call for an 'honest conversation' about returning to EU free movement rules.
“All signs point to a possible sex offender of the grossest kind”
Labour accused of 'betrayal'
Labour faced accusations of 'betrayal' and a 'hammer blow' to jobless Britons by critics.
“This is a total betrayal of Brexit Britain and his Makerfield pitch”
Burnham wants EU discussion
Andy Burnham wants an 'honest discussion' about the possibility of returning to free movement between the UK and EU.
“This is a total betrayal of Brexit Britain and his Makerfield pitch”
EU free movement rules
If EU free movement rules were restored, citizens from all 28 of the bloc's member states would be given the right to enter and reside in Britain.
“This is a total betrayal of Brexit Britain and his Makerfield pitch”
Farage calls it betrayal
Reform leader Nigel Farage called it a 'total betrayal' of both Brexit and Burnham's Makerfield by-election campaign promises.
“This is a total betrayal of Brexit Britain and his Makerfield pitch”
Hunt warns of job loss
Jeremy Hunt claimed a return to free movement would be a 'hammer blow' to Labour's efforts to tackle youth unemployment and reduce the welfare bill.
“If I had any cornflakes this morning I would have choked on them”
Burnham's EU stance
Burnham suggested the type of legal migration experienced during the UK's EU membership was different from current challenges.
“It was generally younger people, not always, but spending a few years, then going back”
Rayner on future plans
Rayner said the PM 'is very clear as we go into that summit, we should be having an honest conversation about how Britain can get the best deal going forward for the next decade'.
“We're saying, as we go forward into the future, we have a summit coming up, we have a ten-year plan that we're writing”
Rayner on trade issues
Rayner highlighted reduced exports by 20 per cent and increased red tape affecting businesses trading with EU partners.
“We haven't got the best deal at the moment because we've seen exports reduced by 20 per cent”
Rayner on future election
Rayner stated the conversation would be put to the people at a general election after the ten-year plan was written.
“So, I would like us to have an honest conversation about what the trade-offs could be and then put that to the people at a general election”
Rayner on national issues
Rayner linked the EU conversation to the PM's efforts on the national care service and triple lock changes.
“This is part of a wider programme... bringing the country together, thinking about where the country goes into the future”
Badenoch criticizes Burnham
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called Burnham's comments 'foot-in-mouth syndrome' and warned about immigration impacts.
“Most people who voted for Brexit did so because they didn't want free movement”
Walker warns of risks
Lord Walker warned reopening old Brexit wounds would be 'dangerous precedent' and not help the one million out of work.
“We've been there, done that, and I think that's a very dangerous precedent if you don't like the answer of a referendum to go back and keep asking the same question”
Labour's future stance
Labour insists staying outside free movement rules is not a red line for UK-EU talks.
“We have to go forwards, and therefore you have to look at what that future relationship will look like”
Next steps
A UK-EU summit on November 20 will focus on long-term trade and immigration relations.
“We have a summit coming up, we have a ten-year plan that we're writing”
The key point
Labour's Housing Secretary Angela Rayner defended the Prime Minister's call for an 'honest conversation' about returning to EU free movement rules as critics accused Labour of 'betrayal' and a 'hammer blow' to jobless Britons.
