No 10 Downplays Idea of UK Rejoining EU Single Market
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Downing Street has played down the idea of the UK rejoining the EU single market, after Labour's Andy Burnham suggested a referendum would be needed first.
The single market lets countries trade with each other without extra checks or costs. The UK left it after Brexit, its departure from the EU.
The prime minister had earlier said he wanted a debate about how Britain could build a closer relationship with the EU. However, No 10 has not confirmed any plan to rejoin the single market.
Burnham, a senior Labour politician, raised the referendum question while speaking at a different event this morning. He was attending a rough sleeping summit held in Downing Street.
At the summit, Burnham expanded on comments he had made earlier on television. He had argued that tackling rough sleeping is cheaper than ignoring it.
Rough sleeping means living on the street without a home. Councils and charities across the UK have been trying to reduce the number of people affected.
Burnham's comments on the EU added a new angle to the UK's ongoing debate about its relationship with Europe. Any move to rejoin the single market would likely require public approval, as such a major change would affect trade rules and sovereignty.
For now, Downing Street appears focused on managing expectations rather than confirming new policy. The government has not set out a timeline for any decision on the single market.
Vocabulary7 words
- single market
- a system where countries trade easily with no extra rules
- referendum
- a public vote where everyone decides one question
- Brexit
- the UK's exit from the European Union
- debate
- a discussion of different ideas or opinions
- rough sleeping
- living on the street without a home
- sovereignty
- a country's power to control its own decisions
- No 10
- a short name for the UK prime minister's office
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A referendum would be needed 2. At a summit in Downing Street 3. It played down the suggestion
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Downing Street has played down the idea of the UK rejoining the EU _____, after Andy Burnham suggested a referendum would be needed.
The single market lets countries trade with each other without extra _____ or costs.
The UK left it after _____, its departure from the EU.
The prime minister had earlier said he wanted a _____ about Britain's relationship with the EU.
Burnham raised the referendum question while attending a _____ summit in Downing Street.
He had argued that tackling rough sleeping is cheaper than _____ it.
Any move to rejoin the single market would likely require public _____.
For now, Downing Street appears focused on managing _____ rather than confirming new policy.
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