Keir insists he’s NOT been ‘stitched up’ by Brussels despite Brexit betrayal seeing UK PAY to go back into EU courts
BRITAIN will pay money to Brussels for a “sellout” deal that drags the country back under the control of European judges and grants French boats access to our fishing waters for 12 YEARS.
The agreement signed by Sir Keir Starmer in London today reveals the UK will be tethered to the EU's rulebook on trade standards.
Brexiteers like Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch have denounced it as a "betrayal" of the 2016 referendum.
Former PM Boris Johnson blasted: "Two-tier Keir is once again going back on his promises to the people of this country - by making us non-voting members of a two-tier European Union.
"Under this appalling sell out of a deal the UK will have to accept EU law on a host of measures from food standards to emissions trading."
At a London press conference this afternoon Sir Keir denied to reporters he had been "stitched up like a kipper" by Brussels.
What is in the new Brexit 'surrender deal'
- FISHING FIASCO – NET LOSS FOR BRITAIN
We’ve handed over our fishing waters to EU fleets until 2038 – 12 years. This was supposed to be one of Brexit’s big wins – reclaiming control of our waters. Instead, it’s a slap in the face for the fishing industry, which was promised better days post-Brexit. - ERASMUS RETURNS – AT A COST
Britain’s back in the EU’s Erasmus student exchange scheme, which comes with hefty financial contributions. - EU RULES STILL IN CHARGE
Dynamic alignment means Britain has to follow EU rules on energy, food safety, and farming. This includes sticking to their regulations on things like pesticides and organics, even if we don’t agree. - EU COURTS RULE THE ROOST
The European Court of Justice will remain the ultimate authority on disputes involving EU law. Whether it’s about trade, carbon markets, or food standards, Britain’s judicial independence is undermined. - PAY UP, BRITAIN – THE BILL KEEPS ROLLING IN
From climate change agreements to food safety programmes, Britain will have to make financial contributions to take part in EU schemes. - BORDER TROUBLES – MIGRATION MESS CONTINUES
The deal talks about tackling irregular migration, but there’s no concrete plan to stop dangerous Channel crossings. While there’s mention of cooperation with EU agencies like Frontex, people smuggling and illegal crossings remain huge issues. - NO SEAT AT THE TABLE – FOLLOW THE RULES, BUT NO SAY
Britain will be consulted on EU policy-making but won’t get a real seat at the table. We’ll have to follow rules on things like farming and carbon markets, but won’t have any meaningful power to shape them. - TIED TO EU GREEN TARGETS – CLIMATE CONTROL
Britain’s climate policies will have to align with EU carbon market rules, including emissions trading and environmental ambitions. While the UK has its own climate goals, this deal limits our ability to set independent targets.
The deal will see Britain follow the EU’s food standards but only be involved in “early stages” of setting the rules - with the European Court of Justice the ultimate arbiter.
In exchange, French boats and other trawlers from the continent will be given rights to fish off our coastline for 12 years.
Mr Farage said this would mark "the end of the fishing industry", while the Tories branded it "far worse than we anticipated".
The text also shows British taxpayers will make an “appropriate financial contribution” to the EU as the price of what critics are blasting as a “surrender” deal.
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It has not yet been revealed how much money the UK will pay the EU.
But - despite trumpeting the deal as a win for Britain - it will only add a meagre 0.3 per cent to GDP over 15 years.
Sir Keir 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.
“So that’s what this deal is all about – facing out into the world once again, in the great tradition of this nation.
"Building the relationships we choose, with the partners we choose, and closing deals in the national interest. Because that is what independent, sovereign nations do.”
The UK has also struck a defence pact with the EU. Defence firms will also gain access to a £126billion EU-wide weapons fund, although British taxpayers face having to pay millions for the privilege.
And both sides have agreed to continue talks on a controversial youth mobility scheme that will dish out visas to young Europeans.
The UK has been signed up to the Erasmus+ scheme which concerns an arrangement for Europeans rights to live, study and work here for up to three years.
The EU will allow British travellers to use e-gates at European airports - a move that could ease long queues at borders.
Reform UK leader Mr Farage lamented the potential "end of the fishing industry" after details of the UK-EU reset deal emerged.
Meanwhile, Tory leader Ms Badenoch said the details are "very concerning".
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She said: "12 years access to British waters is three times longer than the government wanted. 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."
ANALYSIS: Starmer paraded as a born-again Brexiteer - but EU deal shows true colours
By JACK ELSOM, Chief Political Correspondent
FOR years Sir Keir Starmer has tried to convince us he is a born-again Brexiteer, committed to grasping the opportunities leaving the EU has to offer.
A reputation as the die-hard Remainer who led Jeremy Corbyn’s charge to overturn the referendum was never going to wash with voters - so he shed that political skin.
And now - when it comes to the crunch - the PM reveals his true colours in a deal that drags Britain back under Brussels’ clutches.
For days it has been clear from smug Eurocratic briefings that Labour had made plenty of concessions.
But the revelations this morning that French trawlers will be able to plunder our fishing waters for 12 YEARS is worse than even the harshest Starmer critic could have feared.
From the details we have so far, it appears our PM has been stitched up like a soppy kipper.
Reclaiming sovereignty of our rich coastline was a totemic issue of the 2016 referendum, but also a necessity for many fishing companies to simply stay afloat.
As they head out on their boats this morning, many will rightly feel betrayed.
Ministers are even so out-of-touch they think the industry can be bought off with a £360m "coastal community fund” - fat chance of that.
And that is before other expected sellouts: more taxpayer cash going to Brussels, more migrants pouring in under an EU Youth Mobility Scheme, and oversight of European judges.
That last one - the harmless sounding “dynamic alignment” on food standards - will really stick in the craw of the 17.4million who backed Brexit because it binds us to ever-changing Brussels’ rules over which we have no say.
In the grand trappings of London’s Lancaster House, Sir Keir will today inevitably parade his deal as a win for Britain.
He says he does not want to reopen the political rows of the past and instead look forward.
But with this deal, he not only opens old wounds, but is drawing new battle lines.
Starmer arrives at UK-EU Summit
The Prime Minister has just arrived at Lancaster House, where he is hosting a UK-EU summit on Monday.
It comes after a breakthrough in talks regarding a new post-Brexit deal, which came on Sunday night at around 10.30pm.
The landmark summit is designed to usher in a closer relationship between Britain and the bloc.
Starmer is expected to announce the deal with the EU when he meets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa
Credit: Getty Minister hits back at fears EU deal will block US trade talks
It is “completely wrong” to claim Britain's food trade pact with the EU will wreck chances of a future deal with America, a Cabinet Minister has insisted.
Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds hit back after fears the UK signing up to European food rules could shut the door on a post-Brexit agreement with the US.
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether the Government’s new alignment with Brussels would limit deals with Washington, he said: "No, I think that is completely wrong. And we have shown it (to be) absolutely wrong.
He added: "We have been absolutely clear in all of our trade negotiations, whether it’s with India, the US, the EU, the Gulf, South Korea, Switzerland, we will not change our food production standards.”
Reform would undo fishing 'surrender', says Richard Tice
Reform will undo Sir Keir Starmer's fishing deal if it wins the next general election, deputy party leader Richard Tice has vowed.
Mr Tice accused the PM of a "surrender" and of "selling out" British fishermen.
He added Reform “will repeal this when we win the general election”.
Kemi Badenoch: We are back to being rule-takers
Kemi Badenoch has slammed Sir Keir Starmer’s Brexit “reset” deal – warning Britain is once again taking orders from Brussels.
The Conservative chief tore into the PM’s 12-year fishing giveaway, blasting it as a major climbdown that puts British boats at the back of the queue.
She hit out after it emerged EU fishermen will have access to UK waters until 2038 – triple what Britain originally offered – as part of a wider deal to smooth trade with the bloc.
Posting on X, Ms Badenoch fumed: "12 years access to British waters is three times longer than the govt wanted.
"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."
Defence pact agreed
The UK has also struck a defence pact with the EU, and both sides have agreed to continue talks on a youth mobility scheme.
But the Tories and Reform UK have blasted this as "freedom of movement by the backdoor".
Trade Secretary Johnathan Reynolds suggested earlier this morning any scheme would be capped and come with time-limits.
Speaking about existing schemes, he told Times Radio: “They’re limited. They’re targeted. It’s a sort of smart system.
"It’s not the kind of access people had when we were members of the European Union.”
He said: “I think last year, we issued, as a country about 24,000 visas for the various youth mobility schemes. So this is not immigration, it’s not freedom of movement. It’s something very different.
'Fish for food' signed
The “fish for food” agreement was signed off by all 27 EU member states in Brussels ahead of a UK-EU summit in London today.
Sir Keir will unveil the pact alongside European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
British negotiators initially offered just four years, having previously pushed for annual talks, but relented in late-night wrangling.
The original post-Brexit deal signed in 2020 granted EU fleets access for five years.
But that time limit has now more than doubled under the new terms.
Starmer "reset" deal with EU
The Prime Minister has handed EU fishermen access to UK waters until 2038 in a dramatic last-minute Brexit “reset” deal, it is understood.
British boats face being pushed aside for more than a decade after the PM caved to EU demands for a 12-year fishing rights pact - more than double the current five-year arrangement.
In return, Brussels agreed to a permanent Swiss-style veterinary deal to cut border checks and boost trade - with Britain signing up to follow EU rules on plant and animal health.
This means UK food exporters will face fewer delays at borders, but at the cost of aligning with EU standards and accepting European Court of Justice oversight on those specific rules.
Credit: Reuters