UK and EU officials to discuss freedom of movement

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says no "assumptions" have been made about what the future UK-EU relationship could look like British and European officials will discuss the future options for the UK's relationship with the EU, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has told the BBC. Officials on both sides are expected to begin discussions about a range of options, including free movement, before the EU summit on 20 November. However, Downing Street has insisted the government's current focus is on achieving new deals in areas such as food and youth mobility at the summit. Reynolds said no "assumptions" had been made about what the UK's future relationship with Brussels could look like. Andy Burnham has said he wants an "honest discussion" about the prospect of returning to free movement between the UK and EU. But the prime minister has been clear any major changes to the UK-EU relationship would require a mandate at a general election, which is due by 2029. He has vowed to stick 's 2024 manifesto, with no return to freedom of movement, the EU single market or customs union, for the duration of this parliamentary session, which will end by 2029. Freedom of movement, which allows EU citizens to travel, live, study and work in any member country, is a precondition of membership of the EU's single market. The single market enables goods, services and people to move freely between member states, with countries also applying many common rules and standards. No 10 appears to backtrack on PM's freedom of movement referendum suggestion Chris Mason: Burnham faces crunch decisions in his next 100 days Burnham open to 'honest discussion' on EU free movement Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Reynolds said current discussions ahead of the summit are around food and drink, electricity and emissions trading. Burnham is far more willing to have a public conversation around Brexit than his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer, whose government was nervous about reopening a debate that proved so contentious in the past. Some people within the Labour Party had been urging Sir Keir to go further and there is a widely held view that Burnham's comments are likely to go down well with voters tempted . But there is nervousness among Labour MPs with small majorities in Brexit-supporting, Reform-facing constituencies. Labour MP Melanie Onn, whose constituency Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes backed leaving the EU, told the Today programme Burnham risked losing trust 2024 manifesto at a future election.