British ministers have opened discussions with the European Union about a longer-term relationship that could include a return to free movement, the business secretary said on Tuesday.
Jonathan Reynolds told reporters the immediate priorities for negotiations ahead of a November EU summit are to agree measures to ease some trading restrictions and to secure a youth mobility deal. He said those items would sit alongside talks on "future options for [the] relationship" between the UK and the bloc.
Reynolds sought to emphasise that any changes would be subject to public consent, saying the British people "are the boss" when it comes to what the UK will accept. He said the prime minister, Andy Burnham, had expressed a desire for a long-term and stable relationship with the EU.
Summit organisers hope the November meeting will provide an opportunity to formalise agreements on trade facilitation and youth mobility while also clarifying possible pathways for deeper cooperation. Discussions with EU counterparts are at an exploratory stage, according to the business secretary.
Officials declined to provide further details about the timing or scope of potential free movement arrangements, saying conversations remain ongoing and that the November summit will be the next key milestone for talks.