PM defends ‘common sense’ EU deal as critics condemn ‘surrender’ to Brussels

But the Prime Minister faced accusations of “surrender” over the extension of fishing rights until 2038 and an agreement to “dynamic alignment” with Brussels on areas including food standards and energy.

The Government claimed the post-Brexit “reset” will cut red tape for travellers and businesses, boosting the economy by £9 billion by 2040.

Under the deal struck with Brussels, more tourists will be able to use e-gates at airports in Europe, pet passports will be introduced for UK cats and dogs, and businesses can sell burgers and sausages into the bloc again.

Summit

Sir Keir met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa at a summit in Lancaster House, London, to seal the deal.

The Prime Minister said: “It’s time to look forward. To move on from the stale old debates and political fights to find common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people.

“We’re ready to work with partners if it means we can improve people’s lives here at home.”

He said the deal “gives us unprecedented access to the EU market, the best of any country” outside of the bloc or the European Free Trade Association.

Sir Keir claimed it would result in “lower food prices at the checkout” by making trade with the EU cheaper and easier and would drive down energy bills by co-operating with Brussels.

Mrs von der Leyen said: “We are turning a page. We are opening a new chapter in our unique relationship.”

She insisted the UK’s decision to sign the agreement, which will involve closely following Brussels’ rules, was an expression of British sovereignty.

Measures covered in the UK-EU deal include:

– A 12-year extension of fishing arrangements when the current deal ends, allowing European vessels to operate in UK waters under the same terms until 2038.

– An open-ended new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement to slash red tape on food and drink exports and imports between the UK and EU.

– Some routine checks on plant and animal products will be removed completely and British burgers and sausages will once more be allowed into the EU.

– Linking UK and EU emissions-trading schemes which will mean British firms will not be hit by Brussels’ carbon tax next year.

– A security and defence partnership will pave the way for UK arms firms to bid for work under the EU’s proposed new £150 billion security action for Europe (Safe) fund.

– The UK and EU have agreed to co-operate on a “youth experience scheme”, but British officials insisted numbers would be capped and stays would be time-limited.

– A commitment to work towards the UK associating with the Erasmus+ student exchange programme.

– British steel exports will be protected from new EU rules and restrictive tariffs, saving the beleaguered industry £25 million.

In striking the deal, the Prime Minister has had to balance the Government’s desperate search for measures to grow the economy with the backlash he will inevitably face from Brexit-supporting voters and political opponents.

Alignment

The deal requires “dynamic alignment” – the UK following rules set by Brussels – in areas covering the SPS deal, emissions trading and potential cooperation in the electricity market.

That would mean the UK complying with rules over which, outside the EU, it would have a very limited influence.

The acceptance of some form of youth mobility programme, allowing young EU citizens to live, work and study in the UK and vice versa, has been politically controversial because of the Government’s drive to cut net migration.

Officials insisted the scheme being proposed would not breach the Government’s red line of not allowing the return of free movement, pointing to similar deals with Australia and New Zealand.

Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted UK holidaymakers to be able to use e-gates in EU countries “as soon as possible”.

“I want it done as soon as possible and that’s why I urge EU member states now to do it, and we will be pressing hard on that … there’s no inhibition on this, so I want to see it done quickly.”

Any “commission-based reason” not to has been “knocked away by this agreement”, he said.

“For holidaymakers wanting to get out this summer they will want to know that they can do so easily and without delay and chaos.”

Reset

The “reset” deal also respects the Government’s other red lines of not returning to the customs union or single market, officials said.

The Tories branded the Lancaster House gathering a “surrender summit”.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said: “We’re becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again.

“And with no details on any cap or time limits on youth mobility, fears of free movement returning will only increase. This is very concerning.”

She said it had been “an amateur negotiation from the start, ending in a total sellout”.

Reform UK’s Nigel Farage said the 12-year deal on access for European boats “will be the end of the fishing industry”.

Mr Farage’s deputy leader Richard Tice said: “Labour surrenders. Brussels bureaucrats win again.”

But business groups welcomed the deal, with the British Retail Consortium’s Helen Dickinson saying it “will help keep costs down”.

Confederation of British Industry chief executive Rain Newton-Smith said: “After the turbulence of the last decade, today’s summit marks a leap forward in the EU-UK relationship.”