Reynolds says UK discussing return to free movement with EU ahead of summit
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds says British officials have begun talks with the EU on a long-term relationship that could include free movement, with the November summit focused on trade and youth mobility.
British officials have begun discussions with the European Union about a long-term relationship that could include a return to free movement, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said. He promised that the British people « are the boss » when it comes to what the UK will accept.
Reynolds said the immediate focus of British negotiations is an EU summit in November, where the aim is to seal an agreement easing some trading restrictions and a deal on youth mobility. Trade and youth mobility are the subjects expected to produce concrete results first, while the wider talks will also cover the « future options for relationship ».
He said the prime minister, Andy Burnham, had made clear he wants a long-term and stable relationship with the bloc. That position frames the talks as part of a broader reset, in which free movement is one possible element rather than a settled outcome. Reynolds stressed that any arrangement would be shaped by British interests and public consent rather than dictated from Brussels.
The reporting on the talks is confined to the business secretary’s remarks and the stated agenda for the November summit. It does not set out the terms of any proposed free movement arrangement, nor the EU’s position on it, and no further details of the discussions have been confirmed. The coverage that accompanied the minister’s comments was part of the Guardian’s live political blog, which carried the story alongside other developments in UK politics that day.
Free movement was a central issue in the debate over Britain’s relationship with the EU, and any return to it would mark a significant shift in policy. Reynolds’ remarks signal that the government is prepared to discuss the question openly, even as it sets the November summit as the immediate priority. For now, the emphasis remains on trading restrictions and youth mobility, with the longer-term relationship left for further negotiation.
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