Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has cautioned against the United Kingdom re-entering the European Union's single market, warning that such a move would effectively subordinate the UK to Brussels' directives. His remarks came as Andy Burnham, a figure within the Labour Party, prepares for discussions in Belgium aimed at potentially moving the UK closer to the EU, with full bloc membership not ruled out.
Burnham, who met with Støre at the Labour Party Conference in September, is expected to explore options for closer ties with the EU. However, Støre's comments suggest that even participation in the single market, as Norway currently does, comes with significant drawbacks regarding regulatory autonomy.
The debate over the UK's relationship with the EU, particularly concerning the single market, has resurfaced as politicians explore post-Brexit economic strategies. Concerns have been raised that a closer alignment could impose substantial costs on families and potentially involve funding EU initiatives like net-zero schemes, with one estimate suggesting a potential cost of £1,220 per family. The public is being polled on whether Britain should follow Norway's path into the EU single market, with results to be published in the Morning Mail newsletter.