Keith Smithies

"Andy Burnham is open to adopting EU free movement" Finally, a grown up being practical and sensible 👏 Free article by @benrileysmith thetimes.com/article/491a046… Burnham said: “Freedom of movement had very significant challenges associated with it and I spoke about them in my previous time in parliament. But, at the same time, it was a type of immigration that perhaps wasn’t as difficult [as now]. Revolving door migration where people would come and then go back is different. The balance of migration has changed, hasn’t it, since then? I think we’ve just got to have an honest discussion about those things.” "It was generally younger people, not always, but spending a few years, then going back. And obviously the ease of that worked for British people as well." Analysis by the Migration Observatory at Oxford University shows EU migrants generally tend to stay a shorter time in the UK than non-EU migrants. Burnham said: “I am positive about closer ties with Europe and I’m not hiding that. I think it will add to British GDP. I think it will give us stronger control of migration. I want to make those arguments.” My view: We should be able to discuss mobility with Europe without treating the subject as taboo. People’s lives, work and families cross borders; policy should reflect that reality. A mature debate would weigh the pressures on public services and communities alongside the benefits of making it easier for people to study, work and build lives across Europe. It would also ask what arrangements give the UK practical control while restoring opportunities we’ve lost. That’s the kind of conversation voters deserve: honest about the costs, clear about the choices, and focused on what works for people.