Senior MEP says the UK could rejoin the EU 'within months' under a 'Switzerland plus' deal

German MEP Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's trade committee and a key figure in the original Brexit negotiations, says Britain could re-enter the EU's orbit within months under a 'Switzerland plus' arrangement if Andy Burnham's government decides to deepen ties. Lange said he would "love to see the UK back" in EU decision-making, and said the Swiss model — already used as a framework for frictionless single-market access — could be adapted quickly for Britain. The deal would require Britain to accept free movement of people and pay hundreds of millions a year into EU funds in exchange for single-market access.

Switzerland itself pays €375m (£326m) a year into EU funds and accepts free movement in return for single-market participation spanning more than 100 separate agreements.

Burnham told Parliament on Monday that he plans to put a Brexit reset — focused on growth, immigration and security — on the agenda at next month's UK-EU summit in Brussels.