EU could open 'Switzerland plus' back door for Britain 'within months', senior MEP says

German MEP Bernd Lange, who chaired the European Parliament's trade committee during Brexit negotiations, has told Andy Burnham's government that a 'Switzerland plus' deal giving Britain partial single-market access could be negotiated within months. The arrangement would stop short of full EU membership but require free movement of people and annual payments of €375m into EU cohesion funds. Lange visited London to meet Trade Minister Anas Sarwar and key MPs ahead of a UK-EU summit scheduled for November 20. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Burnham of trying to unpick the Brexit withdrawal agreement and warned he would not secure a better deal.

Switzerland's own deal covers trade, energy, Erasmus and research programmes in exchange for free movement and the annual €375m EU fund contribution.

Burnham told parliament on Monday he would use the Brussels summit next month to push a Brexit reset focused on growth, immigration and security.