‘A democratic outrage!’ Zia Yusuf accuses Keir Starmer of ‘dragging the UK back into EU’

His comments come amid reports that EU officials are seeking to include protective measures in any new agreement that would make it costly for future governments to unpick closer alignment with the bloc.

Zia Yusuf told GB News: "It’s a democratic outrage. That’s what it is. Keir Starmer is very sneakily dragging the UK back into the European Union, which is already a betrayal and an insult to the 17.4 million British people who voted to leave.

"And in doing so, he is now negotiating something the EU itself has described to the Financial Times as a so-called Farage clause, a clause that would impose punitive fines on the UK if a future Government chose to unwind Starmer’s betrayal.

"Our message in Reform is crystal clear: the UK Parliament is sovereign. Nobody least of all foreign bureaucrats will bind a future Reform Government or Nigel Farage as prime minister.

"And let me say this too: if the European Union is looking for a Farage clause, then we will give them a Farage clause. How about terminating welfare payments to foreign nationals, including EU nationals?

"British taxpayers the people watching this show are paying around £6billion a year in welfare payments, with universal credit alone. That would stop on day one.

"How about asking President Macron to give back the £800million that both the Conservatives and Labour have handed over to France to supposedly stop the boats?

"All the while, Macron laughs at us, because every single year we have paid that money, illegal crossings across the Channel have hit record levels.

"What this country desperately needs is leadership. We need a prime minister who will stand up and negotiate for British people British citizens not foreign governments and not foreign courts.

"And that is exactly what Nigel Farage would do as prime minister."

Under the proposed terms, whichever party withdraws from the deal would be required to cover costs for establishing border control infrastructure, equipment, recruitment and training.

One Brussels diplomat explained to the FT that the provision serves as "a safety provision to provide stability and a deterrent for Farage and Co."

Labour has defended the agreement, arguing it serves British economic interests.

A party spokesperson said: "We have decided we will align with some of the EU's rules, in the name of easing trade for British businesses and lowering bills for British households.

"The very nature of all international agreements is that they involve shared rules on certain areas."

The spokesperson added: "Free traders and conservatives have always wrestled with this concept, and the boldest have succeeded when they do not let ideology get in the way."

A Labour source also hit back at Reform's position, telling the FT: "Nigel Farage is going into the next election saying he wants to bring back red tape, mountains of paperwork, and a greater bureaucratic burden."

The European Commission confirmed it "remains fully committed to the implementation of the actions agreed with the United Kingdom at the Summit in May 2025."