Reform or reject? Freedom of movement and the #SingleMarket

This week, from Lisbon to Helsinki, headlines have screeched ‘Lords delay Brexit’, producing more than a few wry smiles in the UK. It would have been hard to predict that the somewhat arcane – to put it politely – upper house of the British parliament would have made news across the world. But the two key amendments passed by ‘their Lordships’ to Theresa May’s Article 50-triggering legislation have seen the pause button pressed on Brexit, leaving the rest of Europe waiting while the UK government seeks to reverse the changes in the House of Commons.

In a new paper, published jointly by Policy Network and Open Britain, we argue that such a pause is a perfect moment for May and her ministers to think again about Britain’s future membership of the single market.

We strongly believe that the best possible post-Brexit arrangement would be one that maintained Britain’s continued full participation within the single market. Our new report explores what reforms to free movement might be achievable without compromising that overriding objective, and what alternative policy choices could be open for the UK.

Clearly, with the prime minister having been so emphatic in her now infamous Lancaster House speech that she wanted to wrench Britain out of the single market, it would require a significant change of heart in Downing Street. The Conservatives, and Labour, who are officially offering a docile backing of the government’s stance, are motivated by a desire to restrict free movement and attain the politically desirable goal of bringing immigration numbers down.

The paper examines what measures might be desirable to improve the management of migration in the national interest, regardless of Brexit. It then looks at the evolving politics of free movement within other EU member states and how, by reacting cleverly, the UK could maximise the chances of securing reforms that would keep Britain in the vital single market, while reducing the current toxic salience of migration in the UK domestic political debate.

You can also read coverage of the paper's launch and Chuka Umunna MP's plea to the prime minister to adopt a more intelligent diplomatic strategy .