Burnham says 'win-win' EU deal possible as Northern Ireland poll shows majority favour rejoining

Burnham is expected to sign new accords on food, energy and youth mobility at a UK-EU summit on 20 November in Brussels. The UK and EU have already agreed a draft deal on removing post-Brexit checks from food and agriculture exports, with similar texts for emissions trading and a youth travel and work scheme circulated to EU nations. The government claims the UK economy will eventually see £5.1bn worth of annual benefits from the agreement.

Labour's 2024 general election manifesto pledged there would be 'no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement', and Burnham has committed to this. Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer struck a deal in May 2025 covering fishing, trade and other areas. Burnham has also made clear he wants to examine the 'pros and cons' of the options for Britain's long-term relationship with the bloc.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Burnham was asked if his decision to reopen the debate on the UK's future with Europe had helped or hindered the negotiations linked to the summit. He replied 'I think it has helped' before adding: 'We've got a big week ahead of us to try and get this deal over the line.' He said what was at stake included 'lower prices for British consumers, lower costs for British businesses, more growth in our economy' and pledged to 'fight now over the days to come to make sure we get this deal over the line.'

Pressed on whether discounted university tuition fees for European students would be part of the deal, Burnham said 'requests are coming from the European side, we are putting our requests on the table too'. He added: 'I believe there is a good deal to be done that could be a win-win for Britain and Europe. I think it actually could be more like the Brexit that people thought they were voting for in 2016.'

Burnham also said former Prime Minister David Cameron had been wrong to argue that Britain's problems had 'nothing to do with Brexit'. He told reporters: 'I think he is wrong to say that the low growth that we've had over the last decade has quote "nothing to do with Brexit". I would say the evidence says otherwise.'

The new poll from Queen's University Belfast, conducted by LucidTalk between 23 and 26 October with a weighted sample of 1,050 participants, found that 52% of Northern Ireland electors agree the UK ought to rejoin the EU under standard member obligations, while 38% remain opposed. More than three-quarters of respondents would welcome an agreement at the upcoming summit to ease controls and checks on goods moving into Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

The survey is the 16th publication in the Testing The Temperature project, which examines public sentiment regarding Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol/Windsor Framework. It shows that only 45% view the Windsor Framework as 'on balance a good thing for Northern Ireland' - its lowest rating since June 2021. Just 44% consider it an effective mechanism for managing the consequences of Brexit in the region, a sharp drop from 60% recorded in February 2024.

Professor David Phinnemore said: 'Voters in Northern Ireland generally welcome the prospect of the UK having a closer relationship with the EU. But with the UK Prime Minister keen to have a "serious dialogue" on where next, it is striking how few, 16%, believe that politicians will be able to debate options in an informed manner.'

Professor Katy Hayward said: 'Our findings suggest that opposition to the Windsor Framework is driven less by resistance to practical cooperation with the EU than by concerns about Northern Ireland's place in the UK. Reducing GB-NI trade barriers through UK-EU agreement attracts support even among those who remain firmly pro-Brexit.'

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has previously strongly opposed any move to align with EU rules, saying it would 'actually take us backwards'. On Thursday, Conservative MP and former minister Dame Priti Patel said: 'Andy Burnham's obsession with the EU risks dragging Britain backwards, damaging our economy and leaving hardworking British taxpayers footing the bill.' The Liberal Democrats earlier this month described the draft deal as a 'patch, not a fix' and said the 'real solution is to re-join the single market and to establish a customs union with the EU'. Reform UK believes one of the 'key benefits' of Brexit is that Britain no longer has to 'adhere to ridiculous EU rules'. The Green Party has called for the UK to re-join the customs union, with leader Zack Polanski previously saying 'full membership of the EU remains the best option for the UK'.