Amidst a backdrop of ‘unfinished business’, Sir Keir Starmer’s Brexit reset is accelerating. Will he navigate the complex web of negotiations with the EU?
Negotiators from London and the EU have pledged to accelerate overhauling Brexit (Image: Getty)
As Sir Keir Starmer races against time to subvert the will of the British people by ‘reseting Brexit’, crucial elements of his reintegration project remain unfinished – leading to a stitch-up that could sink the independence project millions of Britons voted for.
A package covering food standards, youth mobility and energy collaboration is what the government hopes to present when Starmer meets European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen – a summit pencilled in before the end of May.
The road to that meeting has hit obstacles that are serious, but if both sides have their way they will agree to steamroll over them. Genetically modified food rules, the question of which courts police any final agreement, and a stubborn dispute over youth mobility limits have all caused negotiations to stall.
Nick Thomas-Symonds sat down with Maros Sefcovic in London on Monday – the UK Europe minister and his EU counterpart to hatch a deal to meet every fortnight in a bid to unstick the talks through political intervention and tackle the core disagreements separating Starmer’s team and Brussels.
The EU official also crossed paths with Chancellor Rachel Reeves and business secretary Peter Kyle, discussing the broader relationship between Britain and the bloc while addressing concerns like potential tariffs the EU could slap on British steel.
London frustrated by lack of progress
The Labour government has grown increasingly concerned that too many fundamental differences remain outstanding between negotiating teams – issues that must be cleared before any deal gets announced to the public.
Stamer’s wish list includes carve-outs or delayed enforcement of EU regulations introduced since Brexit, ranging from pesticide bans implemented across Europe to restrictions on gene-editing technology in agriculture that Brussels prohibits.
The number of young Europeans who’ll be allowed into Britain under the youth mobility proposal also remains up in the air.
Westminster has floated the idea of a “flexible” cap – one that could shift up or down depending on how much demand exists on both sides – but Brussels has drawn a hard line demanding the scheme operates without any limit whatsoever.
A government source said there’s a push to cement regular political-level meetings before talks advance much further.
The source said: “We want to step the political engagement up even further to iron out issues and drive forward negotiations. Both sides are keen to get positive results and keep building.”
Keir Starmer says UK does not have to choose between US and Europe
Minister warns against ‘red bus promise’
Thomas-Symonds laid out his strategy in the Financial Times, describing the government’s negotiating stance as a “ruthlessly pragmatic approach” aimed at securing real-world benefits for Britain.
Chasing unrealistic goals must be avoided, he cautioned: “There are temptations to reach beyond what is realistic or deliverable. But we cannot create our own version of the red bus promise.”
Where should the focus lie? The minister spelled it out: “Rather, we will focus on where there are real advantages for people: food, drink, and carbon trading. The total value of food, drink and carbon trading deals will be worth £9billion a year to our economy by 2040. Slashing red tape will make it easier to export to the EU — our biggest trading partner.”
Thomas-Symonds argued: “Voters recognise the status quo Tory deal is bad, and want change. But we need to pursue an argument about why what we are doing is good, based on tangible differences we will make to working people’s lives.”
Those who designed Brexit probably didn’t foresee this outcome, the minister suggested: “I doubt this is the outcome that Brexit architects wanted or even expected. But it was a choice made by those who negotiated the Brexit deal. In thrall to ideology, they were not driven by what works.”
Sefcovic described experiencing “valuable exchanges” with British ministers covering “geoeconomic challenges and geopolitical uncertainty”.
He added: “Engagement with like-minded partners matters.”
Reform UK’s leader Nigel Farage warned on Sunday, “For some reason Sir Keir Starmer remains determined to drag us back under the heels of Brussels.”
Tory shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said Sir Keir had given up any pretence of accepting the result of the 2016 vote.
She said: “Ten years after the referendum, Keir Starmer is still arguing with the British people rather than accepting their decision.”
