UK-EU summit date confirmed as Andy Burnham seeks closer ties to European Union

The UK-EU summit has been scheduled for next month after being postponed in the wake of Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as prime minister.

The European Council confirmed the Brussels meeting will take place on 20 November as Andy Burnham warned MPs that failing to seek a new deal with the EU would be a "dereliction of duty".

During a Commons speech on Monday, the prime minister told MPs the “status quo is not good enough” for Britain as he confirmed to MPs he would seek a close relationship with the European Union.

In a statement on Monday, president of the European Council Antonio Costa said: "The European Union and the United Kingdom are like-minded partners, united by common values and shared interests.

"Our security and prosperity are closely intertwined, making a strong partnership between us essential. By deepening our co-operation, we can strengthen our ability to address the challenges of our time, strengthen our resilience and promote stability in Europe and beyond."

Prime minister Andy Burnham said the British public will be the “boss” at every stage of renegotiating the UK’s relationship with the European Union.

In a statement to the Commons, he said: “If we are serious about promoting growth, controlling immigration, upholding our values and security, it is a conversation we must have.

“Sticking with the status quo is not good enough for Britain. Worse, it would be a major dereliction of duty to turn away. We need to take a calm, clear-eyed, rational look at the world as it is today to consider what is best for our country.

“Our immediate priority is securing a successful outcome at the summit, and I believe we should then set up a serious dialogue about the different options for our relationship in the long-term.

“At every stage, the British public will be the boss, and I am clear that public opinion currently supports a pragmatic approach like the one I am suggesting.”

Mr Burnham said the upcoming summit “presents an opportunity to make progress on two crucial issues: boosting UK growth and controlling illegal immigration”.

The prime minister believes the Brexit referendum result was “legitimate”, despite Downing Street saying it is “inconceivable” that Russia did not seek to interfere with the vote.

Questions have been raised over Russia’s involvement in the 2016 referendum after Andy Burnham claimed it was “clear” Moscow had interfered with the vote.

The prime minister revealed he had asked, on his arrival in No 10 this summer, whether Moscow had been involved in the vote and was given “the clear answer that yes, there was”.