Keir Starmer accused of 'direct Brexit betrayal' as Labour plans putting UK under EU control

Jack Walters
Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:53:29 +0000

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of a "direct Brexit betrayal" after it emerged Labour is planning to bind the UK to EU rules.

Ministers are set to introduce legislation to align the UK with future Brussels-derived regulations without normal parliamentary scrutiny.
Brexiteers last night warned the Prime Minister would be making a manifesto-breaking move by making the UK a "rule-taker" on directives created in Brussels.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned that the move was a "backdoor attempt to drag Britain back under EU control."

Mr Farage added: "Accepting their rules without a vote is a direct betrayal of the Brexit referendum and a total breach of the Government's manifesto promises.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

"The British people didn't vote to become rule-takers, and we will fight this every step of the way."

Meanwhile, Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith also said: "Labour are still fighting the referendum because they fundamentally cannot accept the democratic decision the British people made."

The legislation is expected to be included in May's King's Speech as part of the Prime Minister's EU reset.

However, a Government source rejected the suggestion that MPs will have no say on new EU regulations.

"We are clear Parliament will have a role for new deals and on new EU laws applying under those deals," the source told GB News.

The People's Channel understands MPs will retain the ability to rubber-stamp new deals rather than debate and vote on all new directives.

There are concerns the EU could launch retaliatory action against the UK if MPs vote down key regulations.

Despite Labour's 2024 manifesto committing to keeping the UK outside the single market and customs union, the Prime Minister is pushing for closer ties with the EU.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Negotiations between Labour and Brussels will continue ahead of the next UK-EU summit this summer.

However, British negotiators insist the EU has accepted the need for the UK to have the freedom to introduce its own rules on a number of policy areas.

A youth mobility scheme is one area where the two negotiating teams remain at loggerheads, with Labour hoping the EU will drop its initial push for an uncapped migration plan.

Analysis conducted by GB News last year warned an uncapped scheme could add hundreds of thousands to the UK's net migration figure.

A closer relationship between the UK and EU is also expected to spark a huge row between Sir Keir and Donald Trump.

The Prime Minister's friendship with the US President has become increasingly fraught in recent months, with the pair disagreeing on the war in Iran.

Speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce last month, a top US diplomat warned Britain becoming a "rule-taker" would likely trigger a trade headache for American businesses.

Warren Stephens, who serves as US Ambassador to the UK, said: "The relationship between the US and EU is a lot more difficult than with the UK.

"To the extent and I saw this week, the British Government is going to put 76 laws or rules back on the books, to the extent that affects us trade and requirements, that's going to be a problem.

"I know the EU is an important market for the UK and you've got to do what's best for you.

"But that will not be favourably viewed from Washington."

However, Sir Keir's reset with the EU is expected to give ministers the power to "dynamically align" with the EU on future single-market rules if they deem it to be in the national interest.

The move is possible under so-called Henry VIII powers, which will allow ministers to approve laws without full scrutiny.
Ministers will adopt EU rules through secondary legislation via a "statutory instrument".

Sir Keir has spent months battling with Cabinet colleagues over his EU reset, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves setting out plans to align in certain sectors when such a move is deemed to be in the "national interest".

She said Britain would make its own regulations in "sectors with unique characteristics or strategic importance for the UK, but that should be the exception, not the norm".

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Lammy suggested the UK should look to rejoin the customs union.

Following the outbreak of war in the Middle East, Sir Keir confirmed Labour is looking to collaborate with Europe on defence and trade.

The Prime Minister also said a UK-EU summit this summer would thrash out an "ambitious" package for closer alignment.

A Government spokesman said: "The bill will go through Parliament in the normal way.

"Any new treaties or deals with the EU will also face parliamentary scrutiny, and Parliament will have a role in approving new EU laws required under those deals via secondary legislation.

"This will allow us to deliver a 'food and drink' trade deal worth £5.1billion a year, backing British jobs and slashing costly red tape for our farmers, producers and businesses."