The Government has been agreeing to more EU rules, a new study warns.
Keir Starmer during a visit to Berlin (Image: Getty)
Keir Starmer was accused of “betraying Brexit by any means necessary” as it emerged he has quietly reintroduced EU rules in the UK. A new study found 21 examples of the Government promising to follow EU regulations. They included agreeing to re-alignment with the EU on veterinary standards, emissions trading and electricity.
A report by think tank UK in a Changing Europe also highlighted an agreement on Gibraltar, placing the territory in a customs union with the EU, and said the Government is ensuring UK rules align with the EU on digital competition and product standards. Although the UK has made use of Brexit freedoms to sign new trade deals with India and the US, it is also planning a number of new pacts which include the EU
That includes joining an EU-backed alternative to a World Trade Organisation arbitration body. The Labour government is also supporting EU efforts to build an alliance with the trans-pacific ‘CPTPP’ trade bloc, of which the UK is a member, while seeking to join the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention, of which the EU is a member.
The report identifies climate, energy and global digital governance as other areas where the two sides have similar aims and could be set to coordinate more in future.
Joël Reland, Senior Researcher at UK in a Changing Europe and author of the Regulatory Divergence Tracker, says “There is no longer a political imperative to demonstrate UK divergence from the EU. It is clear that, on the vast majority of issues, the UK and EU now see each other as partners rather than competitors.”
A Conservative spokesman said: “Keir Starmer is betraying Brexit by any means necessary. Starmer is a lifelong Europhile and clearly wants to rejoin, so it should come as no surprise.
“He energetically campaigned for a second referendum with free movement of people after his side lost. His favourite piece of classical music is even ode to joy – the EU anthem. It’s no wonder he’s trying to unpick Brexit by the back door.”
A Labour source said: “The Tory method was making bad choices because they were stuck in the ideological treacle of the past. We’re not going to continue that. Where it makes sense, we will share standards to protect our borders, boost jobs and bring down bills.
“But at the same time we’re using Brexit freedoms by removing the VAT loophole for private schools, something we would not have been able to inside of the EU.”
