Andy Burnham is facing a tough fight in his effort to reset relations with the EU after a number of member states, led by France, insisted that Britain stop charging higher university fees for EU students.
The two sides are expected to announce a summit on November 20 despite the gaps between them. Paris and several other capitals want the universities issue settled by then while Britain has argued that it should come afterwards.
EU diplomats said the European Commission, which is leading the negotiations, had last week suggested agreeing to a UK offer to only consider whether to reduce fees for the bloc’s students after the summit.
But several EU countries said at a fiery meeting on Friday that it must withhold agreement on other sections of the deal until the issue of tuition fees is resolved. EU students pay much higher “international fees” of up to £38,000 a year to study in the UK than British students, who pay around £10,000.
“Member states gave the Commission three hours of hell when they suggested this. Without tuition fees, it seems unlikely this will fly,” said an EU diplomat.
The dispute is a reminder of the politically fraught nature of the post-Brexit debate that Burnham has rekindled.
On Monday the UK prime minister will give a statement to MPs on the need to have a national “conversation” on Britain’s long-term relationship with the EU, which he says could include going “all the way” and applying to rejoin the 27-member club.
In another sign of the passions around EU issues, Burnham was accused by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of being a “liar” after the PM raised concerns about alleged Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
“I asked the question coming to Downing Street: ‘Was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia?’” Burnham said in an interview with The Rest is Politics podcast. “And I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was.”
However, Downing Street on Monday did not provide new evidence of interference and admitted: “We do not believe it succeeded.” After repeated questioning, Burnham’s spokesperson confirmed: “We do believe the result to be legitimate.”
Farage, a leading figure in the 2016 Leave campaign, said: “The prime minister is a liar. Yes, a liar.
“Boris Johnson, when he became foreign secretary, one of the first questions he asked was, ‘Was there seen to be Russian interference in the referendum campaign?’ And the answer was no.
“There was no Russian interference, and the Russia hoax has run all the way through this.”
Burnham will on Monday tell MPs that refusing to countenance closer UK relations with the EU would be “a major dereliction of duty”.
His decision to argue the UK must move closer to Brussels comes amid warnings from industry that the bloc’s emerging “made in Europe” agenda poses a significant threat to UK manufacturing.
Downing Street said: “It is time for a different conversation about what our long-term relationship should be. Sticking with the status quo and not working relentlessly to secure a good deal that boosts growth would be a major dereliction of duty.”
Burnham is expected to call for what Number 10 called a “calm, clear-eyed look at what is best for Britain when it comes to dealing with Europe”.
At Labour’s annual conference last month, Burnham said he wanted to find a “consensus” about Britain’s future relationship with the EU ahead of the next election and that his party’s manifesto would reflect that verdict.
He said the options could include going “all the way” — applying to rejoin the EU — while alternatives could see Britain rejoining a customs union or seeking to enter the single market.
Next month’s summit is seen as a staging post to closer relations.
Burnham’s statement comes as UK and EU negotiators enter a crunch week of talks on the “reset” designed to improve trading conditions between the two sides.
The UK is seeking to remove costly border checks on animal and plant products, re-link the UK and EU carbon trading markets that were severed at Brexit and agree a “Youth Experience Scheme” for 18-30-year-olds to travel, work and study in each other’s countries for up to three years.