ByTony O’Reilly-

British Prime Minister says parts of the post-Brexit trade deal could be renegotiated, with economic growth, food exports and immigration cooperation among the priorities.

UK Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has pledged to pursue closer relations with the European Union, announcing that he will attend a bilateral summit in Brussels next month as his government seeks changes to parts of the agreements governing Britain’s relationship with the bloc.

Addressing Parliament on Monday, Burnham said the UK needed to reassess its post-Brexit arrangements in light of changing economic and international circumstances. He insisted that the British public would remain “the boss” throughout any renegotiation, promising a process based on public consent rather than a return to the political divisions surrounding the 2016 referendum.

The prime minister said the November summit would focus on practical measures to stimulate economic growth and strengthen cooperation on illegal immigration. Proposed areas for discussion include reducing bureaucracy affecting British food exports, cooperation on emissions trading, a new youth experience scheme and closer coordination on migration.

Burnham argued that agreements in these areas could reverse some of the economic “damage” he believes followed Britain’s departure from the EU. He called for a more pragmatic assessment of the country’s position, saying the government needed to “take a calm, clear-eyed look at the world as it is today”.

“Sticking to the status quo is not good enough,” he told MPs, adding that public opinion currently supported the pragmatic approach he was proposing.

The planned summit signals a willingness to revisit elements of the UK-EU relationship without necessarily reopening every aspect of the Brexit settlement. Measures to simplify food exports could reduce administrative burdens for British businesses trading with European markets, while closer cooperation on emissions trading could help address differences between the UK and EU carbon-pricing arrangements.

A proposed youth experience scheme could also create additional opportunities for young people to live, work or travel across borders, although its precise terms would depend on negotiations. Cooperation on immigration is another priority, reflecting the government’s stated intention to address irregular migration through closer engagement with European partners.

However, the proposals face political opposition at home and the challenge of securing agreement with Brussels. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch criticised Burnham’s approach after his parliamentary statement, arguing that the EU would negotiate firmly in its own interests and that the prime minister had already revealed too much about his objectives.

Badenoch’s criticism highlights the central difficulty facing the government: any agreement must deliver benefits that Britain considers worthwhile while offering sufficient advantages for EU member states to accept the proposed changes.

Burnham’s comments also extend beyond trade and migration. In an interview released on Sunday, he said it was “clear” that Russia had interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, warning that voters in France and Germany faced similar risks. His remarks were presented as the first acknowledgement of Russian interference in the referendum by a British prime minister, although he did not provide supporting evidence in the interview.

The allegation adds an international security dimension to the debate over Britain’s relationship with Europe. However, claims about foreign interference require careful examination of the available evidence and should be distinguished from the government’s separate proposals for economic and regulatory cooperation.

The Brussels summit will provide an opportunity to set out what a closer working relationship with the EU could deliver in practical terms. The immediate test will be whether both sides can identify specific changes that benefit businesses, workers and communities without reopening disagreements that have shaped British politics for years.

The government’s approach will also face scrutiny over how it measures success. Lower costs for exporters, clearer trading arrangements and workable agreements on migration, would provide concrete indicators of progress. Conversely, broad commitments without detailed agreements would leave questions about the practical value of renewed engagement.

 Burnham  framing of closer EU cooperation as a pragmatic response to economic and geopolitical realities , will  please supporters of the Remain group which lost the Brexit referendum in 2016, Brexitiers will see it as an attempt for the prime minister to effect a reversal of the referendum result.