EU deal explained in full as Keir Starmer 'sells out' British fishing industry

The Prime Minister has racked up three major deals since entering No10, with the US and India already unveiling their arrangements in the past few weeks.

However, Starmer appears to have hailed his efforts to rewrite the UK’s relationship with the EU, vowing to move beyond the Brexit debate.

Speaking at the UK-EU Summit at Lancaster House, the Prime Minister 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.”

Fishing:

The UK has reached a 12-year fishing agreement with the European Union.

Despite British fishermen calling for a reduction in the EU’s quota, European trawlermen will maintain unfettered access to the UK’s coastal waters.

Brexiteers have described the arrangement as a “surrender”, with Nigel Farage suggesting it could even be “the end” of Britain’s fishing industry.

Elspeth MacDonald, who serves as chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, even described the accord as a “horror show”.

However, Starmer’s Government is also looking to invest £360million into Britain’s fishing industry - with a particular focus on new technology, supporting tourism and boosting seafood exports.

Migration:

As part of Starmer’s push to fix Britain’s “broken” borders, the UK-EU deal promises that London and Brussels will continue to work together to find solutions on returns and a joint commitment to tackle the Channel crossings crisis.

Further discussions will also take place around legal migration, with a Youth Mobility scheme in the pipeline to enable young Britons and Europeans to work and travel freely.

Despite fears of a return of freedom of movement by the backdoor, the UK insists that any experience scheme would be capped and time-limited, making it comparable to Britain’s existing arrangements with countries such as Australia and New Zealand.

Passports:

British holidaymakers will soon enjoy faster travel to Europe after the Prime Minister secured a new agreement with the European Union.

The deal will allow UK travellers to use more eGates across Europe, "ending the dreaded queues at border control," the UK Government pledged.

Bringing furry friends abroad will also be easier, as "pet passports" are introduced for UK cats and dogs.

This eliminates the need for animal health certificates when travelling to Europe.

The UK will also enter talks about accessing EU facial images data for the first time, on top of the existing arrangements for DNA, fingerprint, and vehicle registration data.

This aims to bolster the Government's ability to catch "dangerous criminals" and "ensure they face justice quickly".

Defence:

Britain has also agreed to join a £150billion European defence fund as part of a new deal with the EU.

The new Security and Defence Partnership paves the way for the UK defence industry to participate in the EU’s proposed new multi-billion-pound Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence fund – potentially supporting thousands of British jobs and boosting growth.

At a time of increasing global uncertainty and volatility, this will formalise UK-EU co-operation on defence to ensure Europe’s safety and security.

Red tape:

A new arrangement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures is expected to make it easier for food and drinks to be imported and exported to and from the EU.

The reduction of burdensome red tape will also likely cut the length of lorry queues at the border, including in Dover.

Unlike the fishing deal, businesses have secured some much-needed certainty as the arrangement is not time limited.

Whitehall hopes that the SPS and Emissions Trading Systems will add nearly £9billion to the UK economy by 2040.

The Government is keen to point out that the reduction of red tape could also bring a boost to the fishing industry.

Food:

The Government believes its new SPS agreement could lower food prices and increase choice on supermarket shelves.

The decision to remove checks on agrifoods is also expected to add £9billion to the UK economy.

Some foods which were previously prevented from being sold in the EU since following Brexit will return to European shelves, including British sausages and Aberdeen Angus burgers.

The British Meat Processors Association said: "A common misunderstanding is that an SPS agreement will mean Britain becomes a ‘rule taker’. In reality, we must comply with the rules of any of our trading partners if we want to export to them – just like America must comply with British rules if they want to send us their products.

"This means we have been aligned with EU rules and standards all along. The difference this new deal will make is that Britain, unlike their other third-country trading partners, will benefit from true, unfettered access to their market and massively reduced trade friction. It will boost trade and make us more competitive.

"Under the existing arrangement, we have had to produce a mountain of paperwork to prove we comply, costing businesses a fortune but with no added value.

"This extra cost had to be absorbed somewhere in the supply chain, either through lower margins or higher prices, driving food price inflation and rendering UK businesses less competitive."

Steel:

Following a tariff exemption boost from Donald Trump earlier this month, steelmakers are expected to be protected from punitive EU rules and restrictive tariffs through a new arrangement.

The arrangement, which will save UK steel £25million per year, will bring a sigh of relief to Scunthorpe after the steelworks ex-Chinese-owner Jingye left it on the brink of going under.

Hailing the deal, Europe Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said: "Today is a historic day, marking the opening of a new chapter in our relationship with the EU that delivers for working people across the UK.

"Since the start of these negotiations, we have worked for a deal to make the British people safer, more secure and more prosperous.

"Our new UK-EU Strategic Partnership achieves all three objectives. It delivers on jobs, bills and borders.

"Today is a day of delivery. Britain is back on the world stage with a Government in the service of working people."