Burnham ahead of UK-EU summit: status quo with Brussels 'not good enough'
Britain's prime minister wants deals on food trade, emissions trading and migration at the Nov. 20 summit. The Conservatives accuse him of poor negotiating tactics.
Archive image · Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street / Wikimedia Commons, OGL 3 (cropped and resized)
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham set out his plans in the House of Commons for the summit with the EU in Brussels on Nov. 20. Sticking with the current status quo is "not good enough for Britain," he said. On the agenda are a food and agricultural products deal, an emissions trading agreement, linking energy systems, a youth experience scheme and closer cooperation on migration.
Burnham estimated the agreements could add more than £10 billion a year to the British economy by 2040. After the summit, he wants a "serious dialogue" on long-term relations with the EU, with the British public to "be the boss" at every stage. Burnham and European Council President António Costa announced the summit date separately; it had originally been due to take place in the summer.
Opposition Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Burnham of having blurted out all his goals in advance. Burnham accused the Conservatives of turning their back on a potential deal that could add billions to the economy.