PM admits Brexit deal falls short for British workers and farmers

Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated on Monday that the current Brexit deal is not good enough for Britain. He said the agreement has failed to deliver the outcomes promised to voters during the referendum campaign.

Burnham told Good Morning Britain that the UK ended up with a harder version of Brexit than originally proposed. He argued this outcome has weakened the national economy. It has also reduced the government's ability to control immigration, a factor he said surprised many people who believed leaving the EU would solve border issues.

The small boats crisis has grown since the UK left the European Union. Burnham linked this rise directly to the new rules. He explained that the country can no longer send people back to Europe in the same way it used to. This limitation has made the current immigration system weaker, he claimed.

When asked if he wanted Britain to rejoin the EU, Burnham gave a nuanced answer. He said he would like to see that happen in his lifetime. However, he emphasized that he would not move ahead of public opinion. He stated that the British public must remain the bosses of the process.

Burnham noted that 65% of constituents in his Makerfield district voted to leave. He said he would not rerun the referendum. Instead, he promised to take practical steps to improve the current arrangement. He added that he is not proposing a return to the EU during this parliament.

The prime minister supported Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's plan to require foreign workers to wait 15 years for permanent residency. He described settlement as a right to be earned rather than granted automatically. He also expressed hope for a new deal at the UK-EU summit on 20 November. He wants terms that help British food manufacturers, a sector he said has been hit hard by Brexit.

Labour MPs from northern and Midlands constituencies that voted to leave have concerns. They worry that reopening the debate could benefit Reform UK. Burnham acknowledged these views but maintained his focus on practical fixes. He ruled out an early general election, telling the public to put that possibility out of their minds.

In his upcoming budget speech on Wednesday, Burnham said the plan will give people and businesses breathing space. He described the measures as providing a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel for the economy.