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

Prime minister Andy Burnham told MPs the ‘status quo is not good enough’ for Britain

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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.

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.

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.

“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.

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

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.